Decline in atmospheric nitrogen deposition in China between 2010 and 2020

Nature Portfolio 1 year ago

Nature Geoscience - Nitrogen deposition in China decreased by 14% between 2010 and 2020, with greater declines in nitrogen from industrial than agricultural sources, according to decadal...
→ View Full Article

layersDaily Sustainability Digest

Published couple of minutes ago

The momentum across the sustainable construction sector continues to accelerate as firms integrate **whole life carbon assessment** and **embodied carbon** strategies into mainstream practice. Tailored Lifestyle Group, a UK-based design enterprise, is emerging as a leader in **sustainable building design**, embedding **low carbon construction materials** and **eco-design for buildings** at the centre of its projects. The company’s portfolio reflects a growing alignment between aesthetic ambition and measurable environmental outcomes, proving that **net zero carbon buildings** can combine design quality with resource efficiency. Their model underscores how **whole life carbon** accounting now sits alongside design intent as a standard measure of project value.

Artificial intelligence is reshaping **environmental sustainability in construction** through tools like Greyparrot’s Analyser. By improving the traceability and reuse of materials, the technology enables construction companies to address **circular economy in construction** challenges from the design stage through demolition. The AI-driven analysis helps reduce the **carbon footprint of construction**, enabling progress on **decarbonising the built environment** while supporting more accurate **lifecycle assessment** data. This data-centric approach reflects the rise of **circular construction strategies**, prioritising reuse, recycling, and **end-of-life reuse in construction** to achieve **low-impact construction** targets.

Investment in the workforce remains an equally decisive factor. As the demand for **net zero whole life carbon** delivery rises, firms face increasing pressure to cultivate a skilled labour base proficient in **sustainable building practices**, **life cycle thinking in construction**, and **carbon neutral construction**. Industry training that aligns with **BREEAM v7** and **BREEAM** standards will be instrumental in maintaining compliance and driving the next generation of **sustainable architecture**. Without an adequately prepared workforce, the shift to **eco-friendly construction** and the improvement of **building lifecycle performance** risk stalling before meaningful decarbonisation can be achieved.

Policy and finance are converging to reinforce these technical shifts. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors has introduced global guidance that ensures sustainability criteria inform bank lending valuations. Factoring **life cycle cost**, **environmental product declarations (EPDs)**, and the **environmental impact of construction** into valuation processes strengthens the financial viability of **green building materials** and **sustainable material specification**. These measures also improve visibility of **green building products** within mainstream investment, translating ecological design into tangible economic performance.

Fire safety advances illustrate that **sustainable design** must consider resilience as central to **green construction**. Recent recognition from the Association for Specialist Fire Protection highlights innovation in passive fire systems that enhance both safety and **low carbon design** integration. As **energy-efficient buildings** become more airtight and adopt **renewable building materials**, rigorous design evaluation is vital to managing risk without undermining performance. The collective direction of these innovations confirms that the future of **sustainable construction** and **sustainable urban development** depends on joined-up thinking—where **circular economy** principles, **resource efficiency in construction**, and **carbon footprint reduction** become inseparable from quality, safety, and value.

Show More

camera_altFeatured Instagram Posts:

Get your opinion heard:

Whole Life Carbon is a platform for the entire construction industry—both in the UK and internationally. We track the latest publications, debates, and events related to whole life guidance and sustainability. If you have any enquiries or opinions to share, please do get in touch.