2026 Trends to Watch in B2B Building Product Commerce

Kamya Sud
5 days ago
2 min read

Biomaterials Take Center Stage

Innovations in biobased construction materials

Biobased materials have been successfully used for thousands of years. They were replaced by chemicals and additives during the industrial revolution in an attempt to go faster, cheaper, and make more money.

As the cost of the chemical materials has become evident the industry has looked to the past. Materials like hemp, mycelium, cork, cellulose, seaweed, algae, flax and more have been growing and will break out as a first choice for top designers in 2026.

The Private Sector Fills The Federal Demand-Side Void

Apple data centers slated for future development

In recent years, the federal government stepped back from its role as both regulator and demand driver for sustainable building materials. That created friction and uncertainty in 2025.

In 2026, private sector, CRE, lured by higher asset values, is poised to step in.

Large commercial real estate owners — including Apple, JPMorgan Chase, Harvard, Bank of America, Microsoft, and Google — will drive demand directly through procurement, portfolio standards, and capital allocation.

AI & Digital Tools Shape Material Selections

AI and technology-led innovation lead the way for AECs

AI isn’t just for design — it’s reshaping material selection, procurement, and lifecycle management.

AI helps predict material performance, optimize designs for efficiency, and flag supply chain issues before delays hit.

What to watch: mainstream adoption of AI-driven procurement and lifecycle analytics across suppliers and contractors.

China’s Lead Smacks Us In The Head

China's construction industry is booming

For years, the U.S. assumed leadership in sustainability. But China made sustainability a coordinated industrial priority while the U.S. made it optional — fragmented across states, sectors, and election cycles. The result is a growing gap in manufacturing, innovation, and global competitiveness.

In 2026 it’s a wake up call that progress depends less on rhetoric and more on execution. The US catching up with shared standards, interoperable data, and market-driven accountability. The next phase of leadership will be earned — not declared.

Circularity Aspiration to Opportunity

Circular economy principles become mainstream with increased regulationn

In 2026, circular building materials will transition from aspiration to a market-driven, regulated, multibillion-dollar market.

Driven by the European Union's landmark Circular Economy Act, expected to be adopted this year, and a market valuation projected to reach $110B by the end of 2026, the industry is ready to tranform how resources are managed.

PFAS Legislation Normalized

PFAS is a group of harmful chemicals otherwise known as forever chemicals

For PFAS legislation, it will feel ike the 1990s did for Big Tobacco. The courage of states like WA, OR, and MN will open the eyes of the average consumer and the average designer. The combination of legislation and demand shift will be the beginning of the end of this harmful class of forever chemicals.