Construction Sector Faces Growing Pressure to Eliminate MCCPs from Building Products
Tremco CPG has confirmed that all foams across its illbruck and Nullifire ranges are fully MCCP-free, positioning the company ahead of tightening regulations and avoiding the need for future reformulations.
The construction industry is entering another phase of chemical compliance and sustainability reform as Medium-Chain Chlorinated Paraffins (MCCPs) come under increasing regulatory scrutiny across Europe.
Once widely used in construction foams and other building materials to improve flexibility and fire performance, MCCPs are now being phased out due to mounting environmental and health concerns.
Why MCCPs Are Under Pressure
MCCPs have been identified as persistent environmental pollutants because they degrade very slowly and can accumulate in ecosystems over time. Regulators and environmental agencies have raised concerns about their long-term impact on both human health and the environment.
As a result, MCCPs have been classified as Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs) in Europe, with tightening restrictions signalling a clear direction of travel for manufacturers: products containing MCCPs are increasingly incompatible with future regulatory and sustainability expectations.
For contractors, specifiers and distributors, this creates a growing need to verify the chemical compliance of materials used across projects, particularly as sustainability standards and procurement requirements continue to evolve.
Industry Shift Already Underway
While some manufacturers are still adapting formulations, others say they anticipated the regulatory changes years ago.
Tremco CPG has confirmed that all foams across its illbruck and Nullifire ranges are already fully MCCP-free, positioning the company ahead of tightening regulations and avoiding the need for future reformulations.
According to the company, this proactive approach helps reduce compliance risks for customers while supporting long-term sustainability goals within the built environment.
What This Means for the Market
The move away from MCCPs reflects a broader transformation happening across the construction products sector, where environmental transparency and future-proof compliance are becoming key competitive differentiators.
Manufacturers that have not yet transitioned away from restricted substances may face:
- reformulation costs,
- certification challenges,
- supply-chain disruption,
- and increasing scrutiny from specifiers and regulators.
At the same time, contractors and developers are under pressure to ensure the products used on projects align with tightening environmental standards and ESG commitments.
As regulations continue to evolve, the industry is likely to see accelerated demand for construction materials that can demonstrate both performance and long-term chemical compliance.
