The Low Carbon Building Initiative has marked a milestone by issuing its first low carbon building labels in Germany and Belgium, recognising The Stack in Munich and Luxia in Brussels as models of energy-efficient buildings. The scheme targets embodied carbon and Whole Life Carbon by setting rigorous benchmarks across the entire building lifecycle performance. This move places Whole Life Carbon Assessment at the centre of environmental sustainability in construction and signals a wider market...

Japanese firm Gunze has developed a technology that measures how much carbon dioxide is absorbed by rooftop gardens and vertical planting. This advance offers a new way to quantify embodied carbon reduction and the carbon footprint of construction linked to greening infrastructure. Integrating such metrics into whole life carbon assessment provides clarity for sustainable building design and supports greater accountability across fast-growing cities. Accurate measurement also strengthens...

Emma Reynolds has been appointed as the UK’s new Environment Secretary, a role that places sustainability in construction at the forefront of government policy. With the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors urging continuity of reform, the sector is focusing on whole life carbon assessment, life cycle cost strategies and embodied carbon reduction to accelerate net zero whole life carbon outcomes. This appointment is seen as critical for advancing environmental sustainability in...

The appointment of Emma Reynolds as the UK’s new Environment Secretary signals potential shifts in regulatory frameworks that could shape environmental sustainability in construction. With housing and infrastructure central to national growth, the construction sector is preparing for stronger enforcement of sustainable building practices and greater demand for whole life carbon assessment across projects. Clearer guidance from government could accelerate low carbon design and improve resource...

The appointment of Emma Reynolds as UK Environment Secretary signals increased urgency for environmental sustainability in construction. With the built environment contributing nearly 40% of emissions, expectations are high that whole life carbon policies and stricter efficiency standards will accelerate. The integration of whole life carbon assessment into planning frameworks is being viewed as essential for achieving net zero whole life carbon targets, with professional bodies such as RICS...

The construction sector is facing intensified demands to address whole life carbon in buildings, with political and industry developments pushing for rapid progress. In the UK, changes in government leadership signal a renewed focus on housing policy and planning frameworks. Organisations are pressing ministers to align national strategies with sustainable construction goals and to accelerate whole life carbon assessment within planning reform. This scrutiny highlights the sector’s central...

The UK construction sector is responding to fresh leadership following a cabinet reshuffle, with industry bodies stressing the need to maintain progress on planning and environmental policy. The shift comes as the sector pushes for greater regulatory certainty to support sustainable construction and sustainable urban development. Clear direction on housing and energy policies is critical for enabling eco-design for buildings and improving Whole Life Carbon Assessment across new...

Construction software is driving a quiet revolution in sustainable construction. Platforms like Onsite are transforming project delivery by integrating procurement, EPC management and real-time tracking through mobile construction management tools. These digital systems enhance resource efficiency in construction while supporting lifecycle assessment and Whole Life Carbon reduction by improving transparency and control over emissions-intensive activities. The shift from spreadsheets to...

Richard Broad, Director of the Alliance for Sustainable Building Products, has joined the Advisory Panel at the Centre for Advanced Built Environment Research (CABER) at the University of the West of England. This partnership aims to strengthen industry-academic collaboration in driving low carbon design and Whole Life Carbon Assessment in the built environment. CABER’s work supports the integration of sustainable design principles and sustainable construction practices that target net zero...

The appointment of Richard Broad, Director at the Alliance for Sustainable Building Products, to the Advisory Panel of the University of the West of England's Centre for Advanced Built Environment Research, signifies the growing importance of environmental sustainability in construction. His experience enhances the integration of real-world sustainable building design into academic frameworks, reinforcing efforts to embed low carbon design in teaching, research and future project delivery...