Efforts to reduce embodied carbon in construction are accelerating, with industry leaders turning to circular economy principles and sustainable building design to address both embodied and operational carbon emissions. By focusing on whole life carbon assessment and life cycle cost, the sector is striving for low carbon construction, from the extraction of materials to end-of-life reuse in construction. Greater transparency, benchmarking, and lifecycle assessment now guide sustainable...

Recent news in sustainable construction highlights the urgent need for robust whole life carbon assessment and improved energy efficiency in buildings. UK MPs are pushing for comprehensive policies to accelerate home retrofit programmes, aiming to cut operational carbon and embodied carbon while meeting national climate targets. Emphasis on resource efficiency in construction reflects the broader consensus on the necessity of sustainable construction strategies that address the carbon footprint...

Microsoft has strengthened its commitment to sustainable construction by partnering with Sublime Systems to source clean cement, setting a new standard in the use of low carbon construction materials. This advance aims to address the significant carbon footprint of construction and encourages wider adoption of embodied carbon reduction strategies in building projects. By focusing on whole life carbon and supporting initiatives for net zero whole life carbon, Microsoft is demonstrating the...

Barratt has announced it will deliver all London developments to Passivhaus standards, advancing the UK’s largest Passivhaus project with 728 energy-efficient buildings. This commitment to rigorous sustainable building design raises expectations for carbon footprint reduction and whole life carbon assessment within urban development. Net zero carbon buildings and eco-design for buildings are now central to new residential projects, demonstrating how the industry is actively addressing...

Refurbishment projects like 127 Charing Cross Road by Barr Gazetas signal a growing commitment to sustainable building design by prioritising adaptive reuse. By focusing on end-of-life reuse in construction and maximising existing structural assets, the industry is reducing whole life carbon and embodied carbon. Such approaches are central to decarbonising the built environment and progressing towards net zero whole life carbon targets. Life cycle thinking in construction is now influencing...

Scotland’s Climate Change Committee has pressed the Scottish Government to target a 57 per cent emissions reduction by 2030, with strategic actions across buildings, agriculture, land use, and surface transport. The recommendations emphasise urgent measures targeting the built environment, particularly construction and retrofit, to drive progress towards net zero whole life carbon ambitions and address missed milestones in environmental sustainability in construction. A landmark £500m...

Carbon Clean has successfully tested the world’s largest Rotating Packed Bed (RPB) carbon capture system in Huddersfield, signalling a major advance in environmental sustainability in construction. This breakthrough technology supports deep decarbonisation of existing and new facilities and will help reduce both operational carbon and embodied carbon in materials. For the construction sector, implementing whole life carbon assessment and low carbon design is now more achievable, offering...

Barratt, the UK’s largest house-builder, has committed to meeting or exceeding the Passivhaus standard across all London residential developments. By prioritising energy-efficient buildings and sustainable building design, Barratt aims to drastically reduce operational carbon and improve the internal comfort of residents. This move signals a shift towards net zero carbon buildings and highlights how large-scale developers are embedding environmental sustainability in construction. A new...

The UK and European Union have announced a landmark agreement to link their Emissions Trading Schemes, delivering major cost savings for exporters through streamlined cross-border carbon pricing. Anticipated annual savings of up to £800 million for UK exporters and total transaction cost reductions exceeding €1 billion by 2030 are expected. This move supports environmental sustainability in construction, enabling businesses to better align with international decarbonisation and net zero...

Watson Construction has started the first phase of a major housing development in Widnes, turning a brownfield site into over 300 new homes. This project highlights sustainable urban development and environmental sustainability in construction by reusing formerly developed land and promoting responsible land management. Sustainable building design and sustainable construction practices are central to the initiative, demonstrating how whole life carbon assessment and life cycle cost...