The Lebanese Sustainable Consumption and Production National Action Plan (SCP-NAP) was developed under the coordination of the Ministry of Environment (MoE) in close collaboration with the Ministry of Industry (MoI) and other key partners under the EU funded SwitchMed programme. with advisory services and technical support from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The Plan is part of Lebanon’s efforts to achieve Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals. The SCP-NAP (SDG 12.1) prioritizes the mainstreaming of SCP in the industrial sector’s policies and plans and as developed in a participatory and consultative approach. SCP-NAP Summary was also available. Switch to Circular Economy: Under SwitchMed II, a short document "How Lebanon is switching to a Circular Economy" was prepared to present an overview on how the country is implementing activities/policies/programs on SCP and Circular Economy.In this document you will see 10 success stories inspired by the work of SwitchMed in the Lebanese Republic. They show how what began in workshops developed into plans that created a ripple that flowed out around the country. This short publication shows that opportunities for countries from sustainable consumption and production are rich and varied. The Switch to SCP is off and running. SwitchMed is proud to have supported Lebanon in its work to build a society where people and planet thrive and prosper together. Lebanon has already developed integrated plans and a regulatory framework that have SCP at their core. For some time now, it has been building on these, expanding its waste reduction plan, establishing a circular economy, and further developing its work on sustainable water managements and energy solutions. It is clear that SCP is no longer just something discussed in meeting rooms. Now it is happening on the ground, across business and industry, in cities and regions, reducing pollution, improving the air we breathe, and promoting better use of nature’s gifts through resource-efficient and low-carbon consumption and production practices. Demonstration project: UNEP work with Lebanese NGO - Nusaned under SwitchMed II in Lebanon on a community-based pilot in the Mar Mikhael - Gemmayze area in Beirut which seeks to address the challenges of reduction and prevention of food waste and packaging waste to divert them from landfills using concepts of SCP and circular economy. The outputs include: Green and Circular Restaurants Project Report Plastics Circle Report Food Circle Report Guideline for Restaurants Eateries to become Green and Circular For each of these documents 2-page and 10-page factsheet/summary delivered: Nudawwer Project Nudawwer Food Circle Nudawwer Plastics Circle Nudawwer Green and Circular Restaurants SM II Lebanon Nudawwer SM II Lebanon Nudawwer Food Circle SM II Lebanon Nudawwer Plastics Circle SM II Lebanon Nudawwer Green and Circular Restaurants Policy recommendations of the different “circles” Next steps will be the organization of national restitution events and the preparation of communication and awareness raising material. We looking forward to replicate this collaboration in the other on-going projects under SwitchMed II with the Hariri Foundation in Saida.
Recent activity across the global construction sector suggests a decisive shift toward measurable environmental sustainability in construction. Policy frameworks are moving beyond voluntary schemes to regulatory mandates that prioritise whole life carbon assessment and lifecycle assessment at every project stage. Proposed legislation on urban water management, including integrated rainwater harvesting, reflects growing emphasis on resource efficiency in construction and life cycle cost evaluation as climate volatility intensifies.
Material innovation defines the next phase of sustainable construction. Developers are adopting low embodied carbon materials and renewable building materials such as bio‑based composites, recycled timber laminates and green concrete that demonstrate credible reductions in embodied carbon. These low carbon construction materials are advancing low carbon design strategies consistent with circular economy principles and circular construction strategies, narrowing the gap between traditional and eco-friendly construction performance.
Energy-efficient buildings designed to achieve net zero carbon and net zero whole life carbon targets are emerging as commercially viable. Medium-scale UK schemes combining airtight design, solar power integration and locally sourced timber show that sustainable building design and sustainable architecture can scale effectively without compromising cost or functionality. This alignment of eco-design for buildings and sustainable material specification enhances building lifecycle performance while improving environmental product declarations (EPDs) outcomes.
Scientific and regulatory bodies continue to link decarbonising the built environment to wider energy transition policies. BREEAM and BREEAM v7 frameworks are reinforcing carbon footprint reduction measures that extend to end-of-life reuse in construction, promoting low-impact construction and carbon neutral construction practices. The result is a clearer trajectory toward sustainable urban development that embeds sustainable building practices and green infrastructure into planning norms.
These developments indicate that sustainability is no longer an optional aspiration but the definitive operating model. Through life cycle thinking in construction, circular economy in construction principles and consistent carbon footprint of construction metrics, the sector is translating ambition into credible, quantifiable progress that helps address the broader challenges of climate change.
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.
Let's chat!
WLC Assistant
Ask me about sustainability
Hi! I'm your Whole Life Carbon assistant. I can help you learn about sustainability, carbon assessment, and navigate our resources. How can I help you today?