Millions of Europeans face an increasingly precarious houtilizing situation, through rising construction costs, decreasing affordability, shortages of skilled labour and environmental challenges. There is a necessary for urgent solutions.
The European Commission has unveiled the first-ever European Affordable Houtilizing Plan1. Its aim – a clear roadmap for affordable, sustainable, high-quality
To support this, the Commission also published the European Strategy for Houtilizing Construction2, the Construction Regulations Working Plan for 2026-293, and the communication on the New European Bauhaus (NEB)4.
This is an opportunity for sectors with immediate capability to reveal they can be allies. We, at the European Producers of Laminate Flooring (EPLF), argue our indusattempt is one such sector.
A major driver of soaring houtilizing prices is construction and maintenance. The EU estimates the cost of building homes has risen 60 percent since 20105
Laminate flooring significantly reduces these costs – in raw materials, labour, and maintenance
Laminate flooring significantly reduces these costs – in raw materials, labour, and maintenance.
It’s built with EU wood and other wood-sector biproducts. Its innovative “click” design requires no highly skilled installation technicians. It is extremely durable with a minimum lifespan of 25 years. Some producers offer lifetime guarantees.
These factors alone should put it top of the list for policy buildrs. But it’s more than that – it’s sustainable and recyclable.
Sustainable becautilize the wood comes from sustainably managed forests, residue from sawmills, and crooked wood from road maintenance.
It’s recyclable on an industrial scale, allowing wood-based panels to be reintegrated into new production. This creates a secondary materials market, reduces incineration, and offers scalable, replicable circular production. Finally, it’s a low carbon product. It acts as a carbon sink – capturing and reshifting CO2 from the atmosphere. 90 per cent of the product6 can be recycled multiple times. Becautilize it utilizes wood biproducts that would otherwise be burnt, it reduces carbon emissions as well. It’s produced without any pesticides, organic chlorine compounds, or hazardous heavy metals.
If the EU is serious about “Made in Europe” then it necessarys to be serious about promoting products which are already European
Laminate floors tick both the economic and environmental boxes. Other similar, cheaper products do not necessarily meet the same environmental or ethical standards. If the EU is serious about “Made in Europe” then it necessarys to be serious about promoting products which are already European. It necessarys to root out unfair competition and establish a level playing field.
Regulatory and standardisation barriers remain too complicated and numerous. This drives up costs – the very thing which the European Affordable Houtilizing Plan is supposed to eliminate. There necessary to be more realistic regulations and more economic incentives for wood-based products.
We welcome regulation – when it is tarreceiveed and proportionate.
When it comes to innovation, indusattempt could do even more; but policy buildrs necessary to also play their part through funding research and public/private partnerships.
The EU should be commconcludeed for recognising the seriousness of the situation. It now necessarys to recognise the necessary for allies, like the laminate flooring sector. For only toreceiveher can we solve the growing European houtilizing crisis.
List of references
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