The construction industry is advancing rapidly towards decarbonisation with a focus on both machinery and materials. While the adoption of electric equipment is expanding, Volvo Construction Equipment has stated that batteries alone cannot deliver a net zero whole life carbon future. Hybrid solutions, sustainable fuels and systematic lifecycle assessment processes are being developed to address both the carbon footprint of construction and the broader challenge of environmental sustainability in construction. This signals a clear industry recognition that life cycle thinking in construction and whole life carbon assessments are now integral to strategic planning.

Material innovation is becoming a central driver. Microsoft has signed a landmark deal with Swedish producer Stegra for near-zero emission steel to supply its new data centres. This move highlights the importance of reducing embodied carbon in materials and integrating sustainable material specification into large-scale infrastructure. As demand for digital infrastructure grows, ensuring the use of low embodied carbon materials and renewable building materials will be critical to aligning construction with sustainable building design principles. It also demonstrates the potential of green building materials and eco-design for buildings to support net zero carbon buildings in practice.

Cement, long regarded as the industry’s most intractable carbon source, is also under intense scrutiny. The UK government has advanced contracts for carbon capture projects linked to a cement plant in Wales, which could mitigate its enormous emissions profile. Cement accounts for 8% of global emissions, underlining the urgency of whole life carbon assessment across the supply chain. While carbon capture can reduce embodied carbon, experts argue it should complement, not replace, low carbon design, circular economy in construction strategies, and sustainable building practices. Effective lifecycle assessment methods and robust environmental product declarations (EPDs) are essential tools for measuring building lifecycle performance and supporting carbon footprint reduction in this sector.

Independent reports are calling for a broader perspective that extends well beyond machinery and cement. Since construction contributes around 38% of global greenhouse gas emissions, attention to embodied carbon, end-of-life reuse in construction, and circular construction strategies is vital. Sustainable architecture, sustainable urban development and resource efficiency in construction must be systematically integrated into planning processes. This requires embedding eco-friendly construction techniques, green construction products, and sustainable building practices into projects from concept to demolition in order to deliver low-impact construction outcomes aligned with carbon neutral construction goals.

Biodiversity is becoming an increasingly significant factor. The Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), supported by more than 600 firms representing $20 trillion in assets, is urging organisations to evaluate natural capital in decision-making. For construction, this means integrating nature-positive approaches into sustainable material specification, assessing the environmental impact of construction, and applying eco-design for buildings. Green infrastructure and sustainable urban development will be reshaped by the demand to respect ecosystem services alongside energy-efficient buildings and low carbon building initiatives.

Across steel, cement, and construction technologies, the sector is setting foundations for decarbonising the built environment with practical strategies and measurable standards. Whole life carbon assessment is displacing piecemeal approaches and driving a new focus on sustainable building design and lifecycle cost considerations. As BREEAM and forthcoming BREEAM v7 frameworks continue to evolve, the expectation is clear: sustainability in construction now demands more than incremental gains. Net zero whole life carbon is emerging as the benchmark, and the collective response of industry leaders will determine whether ambitions translate into resilient, long-term climate solutions.