Holcim has introduced its NextGen Growth 2030 strategy, focusing on becoming the leading partner in sustainable construction. The initiative emphasises decarbonising the industry, supporting circular economy in construction, and innovating in sustainable building materials. Holcim’s move, including a planned listing of its North American business, aims to drive progress in net zero whole life carbon and net zero carbon buildings, placing environmental sustainability in construction at the core of its international agenda.
Digital technology is transforming sustainable building design and eco-design for buildings. Tools such as Emidat now automate environmental product declarations (EPDs), helping to measure embodied carbon and embodied carbon in materials. This makes whole life carbon assessment and lifecycle assessment more accessible, enabling the sector to target a reduction in the carbon footprint of construction and resource efficiency in construction early in the building lifecycle performance.
Biotechnologies are enabling the launch of low carbon construction materials, such as Biozeroc’s BioConcrete, a product that aims for carbon neutral construction by removing the need for cement, which has a major environmental impact in construction. Companies are increasingly investing in developing green building materials, renewable building materials, and green building products to reduce operational carbon and support low-impact construction.
Platforms like Firstplanit are supporting sustainable design and sustainable building practices through intelligent planning, allowing architects, developers, and contractors to prioritise life cycle cost, rapid decarbonising the built environment, and health outcomes in material specification. There is renewed interest in traditional and natural solutions, such as lime-based materials promoted by The Lime Place and Saint-Astier, which contribute to breathable, eco-friendly construction, especially in heritage or sustainable architecture projects.
Emphasis on the circular economy and end-of-life reuse in construction is growing, illustrated by efforts to reuse glass partitioning systems and implementing circular construction strategies. This approach aims to minimise waste, promote resource efficiency in construction, and reduce the carbon footprint, aligning with current trends in green construction and eco-friendly practices worldwide.
New international regulations and pilot projects continue to influence construction’s environmental impact by introducing stricter requirements for supply chains and logistics. Global agreements and marine carbon removal trials show the increasing role of construction in climate action, highlighting the shift towards whole life carbon thinking. As industry leaders, innovators, and policymakers align, sustainable urban development and the transition to net zero carbon are becoming fundamental for the future of the built environment.
