Selected construction value chains depend on small volumes of Critical Raw Materials (CRMs) that are used for performance-defining functions. These include antimony-based flame retardants in PVC cables, boron-based smoke suppressants and cerium oxide for flat-glass polishing. This report compares 43 advanced material, design, process and circularity routes across three CRM portfolios: antimony, boron and cerium. The screening is benchmark-relative and covers the following areas: CRM reduction; performance; reliability; cost; circularity; and environmental sustainability. The recurring binding constraints across all three portfolios are reliability qualification and industrial scale-up, rather than the absence of candidate substitute systems. Many of the assessed functions already have routes reaching TRL 7 or above; what hinders deployment is the need for high-reliability evidence, access to EU pilot lines and industrial scale-up. The report supports Action 3 of COM(2024) 98 by identifying areas where EU-level support could strengthen the evidence base for qualifications, pilot-line capabilities, industrial scale-up operations, and policy-relevant monitoring. This volume is part of a series of linked Joint Research Centre (JRC) sector assessments, alongside the companion electronics and passenger-car volumes.

HAVERIKU Sara;  LAMPERTI TORNAGHI Marco; 

PENNINGTON David;  COELHO Fernando; 

2026-10-01

Publications Office of the European Union

JRC147428

978-92-68-43580-9 (online),   

1831-9424 (online),   

EUR 40859,    OP KJ-01-26-395-EN-N (online),   

https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC147428,   

10.2760/2769470 (online),