The DGNB – German Society for Sustainable Building – is increasingly expanding its international presence in Switzerland as well. Through the SGNI system (Swiss Green Network for Innovation), the German sustainability standard is to gain a foothold in the Swiss market. While established certifications such as Minergie have shaped the Swiss construction sector for years, the question arises as to what position the DGNB system will take in the medium term – and for which stakeholders the certification is economically worthwhile.
Holcim and other internationally operating building material manufacturers are already relying on DGNB-compliant product documentation, particularly on EPDs (Environmental Product Declarations), which play a central role in building assessments. For real estate developers with international portfolios, the DGNB system offers the advantage of cross-border comparability – an aspect that Minergie, as a nationally anchored standard, does not cover to the same extent.
DGNB assessment comprises six main criteria: ecological quality, economic quality, sociocultural and functional quality, technical quality, process quality, and site quality. In particular, the detailed life cycle assessment – from raw material extraction through the use phase to demolition – distinguishes the system from Minergie, which primarily focuses on operational energy consumption. For planners and architects, this means a higher documentation effort, but also a more comprehensive sustainability assessment, which becomes relevant when requirements for new building certifications are tightened.
Market acceptance depends largely on cost-benefit considerations. While Minergie enjoys broad recognition in Switzerland and is often required as a standard in public tenders, DGNB positions itself more in the premium segment and for projects with international visibility. Examples such as the DonauTower with DGNB Gold certification show that institutional investors are increasingly relying on such certifications.
For building material retailers and product managers, the parallel operation of both systems means additional effort in technical documentation. Manufacturers must provide product-specific data for both certification paths, such as lambda value, bulk density, or recycling rates. Whether the DGNB system will establish itself long-term as an equivalent standard or remain a niche solution will become apparent in the coming years through the number of certified projects and their market resonance.
