The UK has reaffirmed its commitment to green investment, with Chancellor Rachel Reeves highlighting sustainable finance as a national priority. Yet, the decision to shelve a detailed green taxonomy introduces uncertainty into how environmental sustainability in construction is defined and financed. The absence of a clear standard may hinder construction firms from aligning projects with net zero Whole Life Carbon objectives, complicate Whole Life Carbon Assessments, and delay the integration...

The European Parliament has reinforced legislative momentum around sustainability obligations by advancing key amendments to the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive. These measures will directly impact construction companies, requiring deeper transparency on the carbon footprint of construction activities and increasing scrutiny over the environmental sustainability in construction supply chains. Firms operating across EU member...

Efforts to strengthen environmental sustainability in construction continue to shape global infrastructure development. Tetra Tech’s $94 million contract for emergency preparedness includes delivering sustainable infrastructure services, underscoring the industry’s shift towards resilient, low carbon design. The integration of Whole Life Carbon strategies is increasingly essential, with contractors expected to incorporate life cycle thinking in construction to improve disaster resilience...

The European Parliament has upheld key provisions in the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, reinforcing its support for environmental sustainability in construction. These measures demand increased transparency around the environmental impact of construction, prompting developers and building product manufacturers to adopt more robust climate disclosures. As pressure intensifies to quantify and manage whole life carbon across...

Amid intensifying global measures to decarbonise the built environment, recent policy developments are set to reshape sustainability in construction. The European Parliament’s commitment to the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) and Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) signals stronger regulatory frameworks for environmental sustainability in construction. These directives place new demands on construction firms to conduct Whole Life Carbon Assessment and...

Major regulatory shifts in Europe are redefining expectations around environmental sustainability in construction. The advancement of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) is introducing compulsory sustainability disclosures across industries, with the construction sector especially impacted. Firms will be required to carry out rigorous whole life carbon assessments, including from supply chain emissions, to meet...

The UK construction sector remains under financial pressure, accounting for 10% of all company administrations in early 2025. Rising material costs, labour shortages, and increasingly complex demands around sustainable building practices have compounded the strain. Project delivery is being influenced by policy shifts toward whole life carbon assessment and more stringent alignment with sustainable design and environmental sustainability in construction. These financial and regulatory pressures...

A £100 million private investment in a low-carbon heat network project in Derby marks a significant advancement in sustainable construction. Supplemented by £23 million in government funding, the network will use underground hot water pipes and water source heat pumps to deliver energy-efficient heating across the city. With construction starting in 2026, this district-scale infrastructure demonstrates a strong commitment to decarbonising the built environment and supports the delivery of net...

The construction sector is experiencing significant momentum towards sustainable building design through the adoption of renewable building materials. Ecological Building Systems' partnership with EcoCocon to bring straw panel construction to the UK and Ireland exemplifies eco-design for buildings, leveraging materials with notably low embodied carbon. By integrating these low embodied carbon materials into mainstream projects, the industry could demonstrate measurable carbon footprint...

Sustainability in construction is advancing rapidly, with major projects embracing robust environmental strategies. Bournewood Park in Essex, led by Hopkins Homes and recently approved, exemplifies the future of sustainable building design. The development aims to incorporate low carbon building materials and measures to address embodied carbon in materials, all while considering the carbon footprint of construction through whole life carbon assessment. By supporting local green infrastructure...