Sustainability in construction continues to make significant progress as the built environment gains higher priority within government policies. In the UK, industry bodies are influencing discussions to drive environmental sustainability in construction, focusing on the urgent need to address whole life carbon and embodied carbon across all stages of development. This reflects recognition that reducing the carbon footprint of construction involves not only operational energy but also...

The UK Government’s intensifying commitment to environmental sustainability in construction is influencing the sector, particularly as the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors continues to drive demand for stricter green building standards. Policy shifts signal greater emphasis on net zero whole life carbon, low carbon design, and whole life carbon assessment. Green infrastructure investments and urban regeneration schemes are evolving within a regulatory context that pushes sustainable...

Recent industry debate has focused on the potential for current assessment methodologies, such as Life Cycle Assessment, to inadvertently favour fossil-based over bio-based and low embodied carbon materials. This systemic issue risks skewing embodied carbon calculations and undermines efforts toward whole life carbon assessment and net zero whole life carbon ambitions. Leading organisations call for transparent and equitable frameworks to enable innovation in low carbon construction materials...

Current developments in sustainability in construction have brought renewed scrutiny to the role of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and whole life carbon assessment methodologies in selecting materials. Industry experts highlight concerns that existing standards may bias assessments against renewable building materials and favour fossil-intensive products, impacting both embodied carbon calculations and broader life cycle thinking in construction. This underscores the critical importance of robust...

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) standards are once again under scrutiny, with industry experts warning these could underrepresent the advantages of renewable building materials over traditional concrete and steel. This affects the accuracy of whole life carbon and embodied carbon calculations, which are now central to efforts for decarbonising the built environment. As calls grow for transparent and unbiased whole life carbon assessment, stakeholders are demanding reforms that promote sustainable...

The UK government’s new 40-step plan to accelerate onshore wind farm development signals a shift towards environmental sustainability in construction. By replacing legacy planning obstacles with streamlined processes, the initiative is expected to catalyse investment and maximise renewable capacity within the built environment. This policy shift demonstrates the commitment to net zero whole life carbon goals, integrating low carbon design and renewable energy into core construction practices,...

Efforts to minimise avoidable plastic in construction are intensifying, as industry groups in the UK highlight the environmental impact of construction plastics. Reducing plastic waste directly supports the circular economy in construction and facilitates resource efficiency in construction. Industry campaigns are now encouraging the adoption of sustainable building practices, such as specifying low embodied carbon materials and sustainable material specification, ensuring the carbon footprint...

The movement towards decarbonising the built environment is gaining momentum, with the ULI Net Zero Imperative highlighting the significance of whole life carbon assessment as a foundation for delivering net zero carbon buildings. Their latest industry insights confirm that true progress relies on whole life carbon accounting, rigorous embodied carbon analysis, and integrating life cycle cost and lifecycle assessment into every phase of building delivery. Cross-sector collaboration, robust...

The construction sector is seeing rapid integration of digital solutions such as construction procurement software, revolutionising resource efficiency in sustainable building design. This technology optimises materials ordering and project management, significantly reducing errors, waste, and the carbon footprint of construction. By streamlining procurement and transactions, the industry supports key sustainability strategies, including whole life carbon assessment, lifecycle assessment, and...

Major infrastructure and regulatory updates are reshaping environmental sustainability in construction across the globe. Pakistan’s government has announced investments in new water storage facilities, including the Diamer Bhasha dam, prioritising resource efficiency in construction to enhance climate resilience and food security. This reflects an increasing focus on life cycle cost and whole life carbon considerations, as such projects demand whole life carbon assessment to ensure long-term...