The concept of sustainable construction is familiar to 86% of Romanians, well above the European average of 69%, according to the 2026 edition of the Sustainable Construction Barometer, published on April 23 by the Sustainable Construction Observatory by Saint-Gobain.

Globally, awareness of the concept has stabilised in 2026, with 67% of stakeholders saying they clearly understand what it entails and 94% having heard of sustainable construction at least once.

In this context, Romania stands out with a high level of awareness, as 86% of respondents in the sector say they are familiar with the concept, compared with the European average of 69%.

Moreover, familiarity with sustainable construction is also high among the general population, where 65% of respondents say they are aware of the concept. By comparison, the global average is 39%, the European average is 33%, while in other European markets, such as the Czech Republic, the share falls to just 14%.

According to the quoted source, despite a high level of familiarity with the concept of sustainable construction, Romanian respondents with links to the sector show a lower understanding of the concrete elements defining it compared with the European average. Only 44% associate sustainable construction with reducing buildings’ carbon footprint, compared with 69% across Europe.

At the same time, significant gaps are observed in other key practices: the use of local materials (31% vs 56%), prioritising the renovation of existing buildings (31% vs 59%), material reuse (39% vs 69%) and recycling (34% vs 67%).

Official data show that 72% of Romanian respondents believe that building in a more sustainable way represents a clear priority, compared with 63% globally.

The Barometer highlights that 47% of stakeholders consider sustainable construction to generate more value than traditional construction, a view that remains relatively fragile, particularly in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.

For the first time since its launch in 2023, the Sustainable Construction Barometer includes a qualitative international study focused on adaptation and resilience, conducted among financial sector players – commercial banks, development banks and insurers.

This new component adds to the annual international quantitative survey, covering 4,800 stakeholders and 30,000 citizens across 30 countries.