A logo isn’t enough; you need a competitive product – this is what the first six months of the trademark programme have shown

The Premium 1TP2011 Materials and Premium Regional Building Materials certification schemes have reached their half-year milestone. Currently, around 50 products hold the certification. According to Építési Vállalkozók Országos Szakszövetsége (ÉVOSZ), the initiative serves to strengthen the market positions of domestic manufacturers, provide guidance to consumers and reduce the construction industry’s significant dependence on imports.

They aim to bring together domestic producers and conscious consumers

To mark the half-yearly review of the trademark scheme, a background briefing was held for members of the press on 17 June, at which, amongst others, several members of the certification committee and representatives of companies producing premium products spoke.

The trademark scheme 1 October 2025 by ÉVOSZ, following more than a year and a half of preparatory work. László Koji, chairman of ÉVOSZ, emphasised that the aim is to create a community that puts the spotlight on premium-quality building materials manufactured in Hungary.

As he put it, the initiative aims both to help consumers make quality choices and to encourage the use of domestic products.

According to the president, the construction industry’s current import dependency of around 48 per cent could be reduced to as low as 30–35 per cent in the longer term if domestically manufactured products were to play a greater role in the market.

Certification covers not only the product but also its manufacturer. During the assessment, the manufacturer’s operations, quality assurance system, professional competence and long-term reliability, amongst other things, are examined.

Sustainability is a key consideration

When awarding the trademark, in addition to traditional technical compliance, environmental considerations play a key role.

Zsombor Báthy , the project manager coordinating the applications, said that the ‘Prémium Magyar Építőanyag’ trademark, launched in October 2025, has so far been awarded to nearly 50 products from nine manufacturers, the majority of which are Hungarian-owned. The certified products cover a wide range, from insulation materials and masonry units to roof tiles.

The trademark may be awarded to companies that have typically been operating successfully for several years and whose products represent outstanding quality. The expert emphasised that external professional partners also play an important role in the application and certification process, such as the Transport and Construction Quality Control Organisation, formerly known as ÉMI and now operating under the Ministry of Transport and Investment {formerly Építési és Közlekedési Minisztérium (ÉKM)}, which contributes to ensuring the credibility and professional soundness of the quality mark.

The market is stabilising

Adrienn Barthel-Malik, a member of the ÉVOSZ Certification Committee and strategic expert for Market Építő Zrt., believes that one of the programme’s most important benefits is that it makes the market more transparent.

In his view, the first six months of the Prémium Magyar Építőanyag trademark scheme have been a greater success than expected: more than 50 trademarked products have already joined the scheme, and further applications are currently being assessed. This shows that building materials manufacturers are open to an objective assessment of quality and sustainability.

One of the most important benefits of the certification process is that it encourages manufacturers to review their own technical documentation and quality assurance systems.

During the assessment process, clarifications regarding documentation are often required, which contributes to the improvement of products and manufacturing processes.

Alongside quality criteria, the assessment of environmental performance also plays a key role. Applicants must provide details, amongst other things, of the environmental impact of their products and the carbon dioxide emissions associated with their manufacture, which reinforces the sector’s commitment to sustainability.

According to the expert, another significant achievement of the trademark is that it has sparked an important professional and market dialogue on the quality and sustainability of building materials.

In the long term, this initiative could help to clean up the market, whilst making it easier for consumers to choose reliable products.

Based on the certification committee’s experience, applicants to date have generally met the requirements; at the same time, the process helps to make quality assurance and documentation tasks more systematic and routine. The mark is therefore not only a recognition of quality, but also a tool that encourages continuous professional development among building materials manufacturers.

They could play an even greater role in public investment

One of the strategic objectives of ÉVOSZ is to ensure that products bearing the trademark play a greater role in public construction projects.

According to László Koji, the newly established Ministry of Transport and Investment supports the programme, and is exploring the possibility of incorporating the standards represented by the trademark into the sustainability and quality criteria used in public procurement.

The President emphasised that the aim is not to restrict the market, but to apply evaluation criteria that give preference to high-quality, sustainable products of verified origin.

The next objective is to reach out to the public

According to ÉVOSZ, the first six months of the programme focused primarily on engaging manufacturers. The main task for the next phase will be to shape the attitudes of the general public and investors.

The organisation is launching a marketing campaign to raise awareness of the trademark and expects that home renovation and energy efficiency programmes could give a new boost to demand for certified domestic building materials.

Based on the current results, ÉVOSZ considers that there are now enough certified products available for the trademark to serve as a genuine point of reference for both professional and retail customers.