Drinks producers would pay no per-container producer fees for the first 15 months of the deposit return scheme under plans announced by Exchange for Change. The proposed structure would set fees at 0p from the scheme’s launch in October 2027 until December 2028. Charges are then forecast at 0.6p per aluminium or steel container and 2.3p per PET plastic container between January 2029 and December 2032. The rates remain subject to review, validation and reconfirmation in May 2027. They will also be reviewed annually after launch and could be adjusted as cost forecasts, contract prices and operational data become
This week’s sustainable construction news points to a decisive shift from isolated green construction products to the governance, data and delivery systems needed for net zero carbon buildings. In the UK, Defra’s proposed regional water councils would give mayors, communities and businesses greater influence over investment in sewage infrastructure, flood resilience and green infrastructure. Climate adaptation is becoming central to sustainable urban development, with future projects likely to be assessed not only on design quality but on their infrastructure dependencies, resilience and building lifecycle performance.
The Energy Independence Bill strengthens the policy signal against fossil-fuel lock-in, with proposed bans on new oil and gas licences, fracking and coal mining, alongside community benefit rules for renewable energy. For developers, the direction is clear: sustainable building design must align with net zero carbon, energy security and long-term life cycle cost, not short-term capital efficiency alone.
The most significant technical development is the call to embed product-level carbon data directly into BIM. Moving from averages and late-stage reporting to live design-stage data would make embodied carbon, whole life carbon and lifecycle assessment part of everyday decision-making.
Architects, engineers and contractors need whole life carbon assessment tools that place carbon, cost, structure and programme side by side while design choices remain flexible. This is essential for low carbon design, sustainable material specification and credible progress towards net zero whole life carbon.
The UK Green Building Council’s Regenerative Places Framework also reframes housing. The focus moves beyond efficient units towards places that improve health, nature, resilience and local prosperity. Homes that overheat, flood or depend on costly energy are weak environmental, social and financial assets. Sustainable design must account for the carbon footprint of construction, embodied carbon in materials, operational performance and end-of-life reuse in construction.
The industry’s next challenge is making sustainable building practices routine through better data, low embodied carbon materials, circular economy in construction and practical circular construction strategies. BREEAM, BREEAM V7, environmental product declarations (EPDs), low carbon construction materials and renewable building materials will play a growing role in proving performance. Environmental sustainability in construction is moving from aspiration to evidence, regulation and delivery. The low carbon building must become the default before insurance costs, regulation and public tolerance impose harsher terms.
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?
