The UK’s sustainable construction movement is gaining tangible ground as policymakers, engineers, and designers adopt circular economy principles to address the environmental impact of construction. The Alliance for Sustainable Building Products has aligned with the ACAN Circular Economy Policy Campaign and UK Architects Declare to embed circular economy strategies across the built environment. Their collaboration supports a shift from linear material use to circular construction strategies,...

The Alliance for Sustainable Building Products (ASBP) has joined forces with the ACAN Circular Economy Policy Campaign to embed circular economy principles across the built environment. By promoting whole life carbon assessment and the reuse of materials instead of demolition, the partnership seeks to lower embodied carbon in materials, advancing environmental sustainability in construction. This collaboration demonstrates growing momentum for low carbon design across the UK sector, where the...

The construction sector is embracing a decisive shift toward sustainable building design rooted in principles of the circular economy and life cycle thinking in construction. Designers are implementing circular construction strategies that prioritise end-of-life reuse in construction and the repurposing of low carbon construction materials recovered from demolition sites. This approach reduces the embodied carbon in materials and supports environmental sustainability in construction, marking a...

The UK’s latest review on greenhouse gas removals sets a defined trajectory toward net-zero carbon buildings by 2050, placing greater emphasis on a diversified approach that values both engineered technologies and nature-based solutions. This policy direction highlights the necessity of integrating whole life carbon assessments into every stage of sustainable building design. By examining embodied carbon in materials alongside operational emissions, the review promotes a shift toward net zero...

The drive to decarbonise the built environment continues to redefine sustainable construction, with pioneering projects demonstrating that environmental sustainability in construction can align with operational excellence. Sweden’s EcoDataCenter 1, operating entirely on renewable energy, has become a model for low carbon design within high-demand infrastructure. Its reliance on hydropower, local solar generation and wind integration shows how data centres can achieve measurable reductions...

Nottingham Trent University’s Bolsover Net Zero Innovation Programme continues to strengthen the link between academia and practice in sustainable construction. The initiative combines technical construction training with applied sustainability education, offering local authorities and industry professionals the skills to deliver low carbon design and sustainable building practices. By aligning its curriculum with whole life carbon assessment principles and life cycle thinking in...

The sustainable construction sector continues to accelerate global efforts to reduce the carbon footprint of construction across the entire value chain. Energy efficiency in homes remains a central concern, with growing attention to heat pumps as part of low carbon design strategies that support net zero carbon buildings. Research from consumer advocates highlights persistent cost barriers, signalling the need for more robust policy frameworks to embed sustainable building design and whole life...

Sustainability in construction continues to mature as regulation, data innovation and environmental urgency redefine the sector’s priorities. The revision of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol’s Scope 2 reporting framework signals a critical shift towards greater accountability for whole life carbon and embodied carbon. The proposed inclusion of consequential accounting could drive a more transparent whole life carbon assessment across building portfolios, urging firms to quantify the true carbon...

The UK’s green construction sector is entering a pivotal phase as the Net-Zero Council launches Sector Transition Plans designed to accelerate decarbonisation across the built environment. The guidance provides a framework for achieving net zero whole life carbon, encouraging firms to implement robust whole life carbon assessment and lifecycle assessment methodologies. Emphasis is placed on aligning investment and skills development with measurable decarbonisation outcomes, reinforcing a...

The UK construction sector made a decisive advance towards net zero carbon this week as the Net-Zero Council introduced bespoke Sector Transition Plans designed to accelerate decarbonising the built environment. The initiative sets a clear framework for achieving net zero whole life carbon across the supply chain by embedding life cycle thinking in construction. Each roadmap promotes whole life carbon assessment, supported by guidance on embodied carbon reduction, resource efficiency in...