What is the compensation scheme Filling the Gaps

The NMD Foundation's Filling the Gaps programme was set up to fill the missing environmental data in the NMD. With the Filling the Gaps compensation scheme NMD Foundation encourages industry to provide verified, product-specific data. The project, started in January 2022, The project, started in January 2022, has proved successful: almost all 380 available fees have been reserved or disbursed. At the same time, the demand for continuity remains high, partly because 90 applications from 2024 need more time to complete their LCAs. For these reasons, NMD Foundation has agreed with the Ministry of VRO to extend the project until 31 December 2025.

Compensation can be claimed until November 1, 2025

Note! The spots are limited and the publication date is set.

Who is the compensation scheme for?

• For manufacturers, producers, suppliers and subcontractors of construction products, building systems and industry associations that have an LCA drawn up and publish the LCA data in the form of an environmental declaration in the NMD.
• For startups and small enterprises that need additional support to comply with regulations.
• Manufacturers and producers of innovative products that contribute to CO2 reduction in the Netherlands.

Applicants who have previously participated in the Filling the Gaps compensation scheme may participate again, provided specific conditions are met (see conditions)

Which products are eligible?

• Products on the ‘Filling the gaps in NMD’ priority list.
• Products within the National Approach to Biobased Building (NABB) scheme.
• Innovative products that contribute to CO2 reduction in the Netherlands.

View the Filling the Gaps list

Reasons to add your product in the NMD  

The environmental performance requirement for buildings goes from 0.8 to 0.5 from January 2025. This means a lower environmental impact of buildings and therefore stricter requirements for the products and materials used. The determination of environmental performance can be done with calculation tools that extract data from the National Environmental Database. It is therefore important to have your product included in the environmental database. Benefits of your product in the NMD:

• With an environmental declaration in the National Environmental Database, you demonstrate the environmental impact of your product.
• Get greater visibility among sustainability professionals. An environmental declaration in the database can mean that you are more likely to be chosen in the creation of sustainable structures. 
• By drawing up an LCA (or having it drawn up), you gain concrete insight into your products, which can contribute to the further improvement and sustainability of production and business processes.  

Three-year compensation scheme

John Drissen examined where the gaps are. ‘Our inventory in of product groups showed that the gaps were mainly in the ‘installations’, ‘bio-based materials’ and ‘aluminium’ product groups,’ he said. The compensation scheme is a success, because by 2022, so much Aluminium products data has been delivered that this group is no longer a ‘gap’. We are therefore happy to continue this scheme in 2023 for the groups that still need supplementation.

Furthermore, from a strategic point of view, we are also focusing on products released for reuse and recycling and those launched by startups.’

The ultimate goal of the Filling the gaps project is to develop a total of 380 new category 1 or 2 environmental declarations that fulfil the gaps. 

With support from Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, Stichting NMD has set up a compensation scheme for the project. For the development of an LCA of a building product that fits into the Filling the gaps Project, €2,500 is available.