Global sustainability news in construction is increasingly focused on decarbonising the built environment and implementing robust operational carbon reductions across the sector. The Urban Land Institute’s (ULI) Net Zero Imperative is accelerating the push for net zero whole life carbon, emphasising practical strategies for achieving measurable carbon footprint reduction and regulatory compliance. ULI’s initiatives highlight whole life carbon assessment and life cycle thinking in construction as essential elements supporting climate resilience and sustainable building design.
Corporate transparency in environmental sustainability in construction is advancing, with major companies like Donaldson Company and UL Solutions releasing detailed sustainability reports. Donaldson’s progress connects directly to embodied carbon reduction in manufacturing, impacting construction materials and equipment. UL Solutions’ recent EcoVadis Platinum Medal demonstrates leadership in sustainable building practices and product safety, bolstering green building certifications and supporting green infrastructure across construction supply chains.
In Europe, the rapid expansion of battery materials recovery and black mass recycling, notably in Germany, reflects the growing role of the circular economy in construction. The construction sector is integrating responsible sourcing and energy storage into green construction, with the lifecycle assessment of building materials and systems now central to large infrastructure projects. Circular construction strategies are shaping procurement and resource efficiency in construction, affecting lifecycle cost and embodied carbon in materials.
Emissions management remains a key concern. Liverpool FC’s 89% reduction in operational emissions since 2019/20 and a significant decrease in Scope 3 emissions provides a benchmark for energy-efficient buildings and carbon neutral construction. Construction firms engaged in retrofitting commercial properties or designing low carbon buildings are adopting similar strategies for building lifecycle performance and improving operational carbon metrics in new and existing stock.
Sustainable logistics innovations, such as Birds Eye’s solar-powered trailers in the UK, are lowering the embodied carbon and carbon footprint of construction through greener material transport. Advances in eco-friendly construction and resource-efficient distribution reflect a broader move towards sustainable material specification and environmental product declarations (EPDs), aiding the delivery of low embodied carbon materials to project sites.
The construction sector faces increasing regulatory pressure for green building materials, sustainable design, and transparent reporting. Developers, contractors, and manufacturers are accelerating the adoption of eco-design for buildings, renewable building materials, and collaborative initiatives. These steps strengthen the role of sustainable construction in global sustainability goals and help drive the shift to net zero carbon buildings and sustainable urban development worldwide.
