Project results in English
The online course ‘Sustainable Renovation’ provides you with the knowledge and tools you need to renovate your house or flat in a sustainable way, whilst ensuring health, efficiency and environmental friendliness. The course is suitable for anyone planning to renovate their house or flat.
People in Europe spend around 90% of their lives indoors, yet research carried out as part of the NonHazCity 3 project shows that harmful substances such as PFAS, plasticisers and bisphenols are still present in these spaces – with building products often identified as a potential source. Current EU and national regulations have so far failed to systematically prevent these emissions and do not guarantee a completely safe indoor environment.
The NonHazCity 3 project has therefore developed strategic and practical solutions for decision-makers in the construction and renovation sectors and tested them in pilot projects. The results show that toxic-free, circular and climate-friendly construction is already technically feasible today and can be further promoted through appropriate policy frameworks.
Sustainable construction is becoming increasingly important in the EU as stricter legal requirements are implemented and the goals of the circular economy and climate neutrality are pursued. Certification schemes for sustainable buildings and green public procurement are regarded as key tools for giving greater consideration to environmental and health aspects in the construction sector.
This publication analyses various international and national building certification schemes and compares them in terms of their criteria for hazardous chemicals. The findings provide guidance for certification schemes and public procurement bodies on how to specifically promote low-chemical and sustainable construction projects.
In this collection of renovation stories, we share real-life experiences from people who have undertaken DIY projects whilst adopting eco-friendly practices. These stories are inspired by the DIY guide and highlight best practices as well as the challenges encountered along the way. We hope that these personal experiences will inspire you to take a step towards making healthier and more sustainable renovation choices for your own home.
This catalogue provides an overview of sustainable building materials, their environmental properties, potential applications and their contribution to circular, climate-neutral and low-pollutant construction methods. It is aimed in particular at local authorities, planners, architectural firms, construction companies and procurement departments that need to make informed decisions when selecting materials. The aim is to provide professionals with practical guidance on how to integrate sustainable materials more effectively into construction and renovation projects.
This publication presents guidelines, information materials and tools designed to support local authorities in planning toxic-free, circular and climate-neutral construction projects. The approaches developed were tested in pilot projects in several European cities. A supplementary roadmap for local authorities offers practical guidance on the implementation and evaluation of such projects. Based on the experience gained from the pilot activities, the materials were updated and further developed in 2025.
All information, results and solutions developed as part of the project are available on the project website:
https://interreg-baltic.eu/project/nonhazcity-3/
