Kimberly-Clark has taken a significant step in reducing industrial emissions by introducing green hydrogen boilers at its UK operations, cutting projected carbon output by 28,500 tonnes a year. While not directly in construction, this shift signals how technologies for carbon footprint reduction in energy-intensive processes can inform low carbon design strategies for building services and manufacturing of construction materials, supporting the drive towards net zero Whole Life Carbon.

The adaptive reuse of Glasgow’s historic Teacher building showcases sustainable building design in practice. By converting existing stock into serviced apartments, Mosaic Architecture + Design has minimised demand for concrete and steel, reducing embodied carbon in materials and supporting sustainable urban development. This project illustrates the growing importance of lifecycle assessment and Whole Life Carbon Assessment when deciding to retrofit rather than rebuild, directly influencing building lifecycle performance.

EDF's appointment to optimise energy management for Terra Firma Energy provides a relevant insight into environmental sustainability in construction. A greener, more resilient electricity supply underpins net zero carbon buildings that rely on electrified systems such as heat pumps and smart charging. Reliable renewable integration benefits circular economy in construction approaches, giving developers confidence in energy-efficient buildings designed for long-term life cycle cost efficiency.

In the US, the Nuclear Company’s decision to accelerate next-generation nuclear construction highlights potential pathways to decarbonising the built environment. New modular reactor designs offer faster build times and lower embodied carbon impacts than legacy systems, strengthening the case for clean baseload electricity that can power energy-efficient buildings and support large-scale eco-design for buildings aligned with low embodied carbon materials strategies.

Traceability technology for critical minerals, launched by Source Certain, offers the construction sector the ability to track copper, aluminium, and other inputs across supply chains. This innovation supports sustainable building practices by ensuring resource efficiency in construction and providing environmental product declarations (EPDs). Developers will be able to certify low carbon construction materials, enabling circular construction strategies that measure and minimise the environmental impact of construction.

Together these developments mark progress in sustainable construction. Adaptive reuse, renewable energy integration, traceable supply chains, and low embodied carbon design all demonstrate how circular economy principles and sustainable material specification are aligning industry practice with net zero Whole Life Carbon ambitions. This convergence points to a market that must increasingly adopt Whole Life Carbon Assessment and life cycle thinking in construction to deliver eco-friendly construction and sustainable architecture at scale.