The construction sector is advancing rapidly towards environmental sustainability in construction with growing investment in low carbon construction materials and technologies. Queens Carbon’s recent $10 million seed funding is set to transform low-carbon cement manufacturing, aiming to reduce whole life carbon and embodied carbon in the built environment. This mirrors a global shift as the industry intensifies efforts on green building materials and sustainable building practices to support net zero whole life carbon goals.
UK government strategies for carbon footprint reduction are prompting debate among industry leaders. The push to decarbonise the built environment risks challenging the viability of domestic manufacturing in carbon-intensive sectors, triggering conversations about balanced whole life carbon assessment and just transition for the workforce. The discussion emphasises the importance of aligning climate targets with the economic realities of construction and material supply chains.
The Climate Change Committee urges both businesses and financial institutions to adopt robust adaptation measures using whole life carbon assessment and life cycle cost approaches. Enhanced international collaboration and clear targets for lifecycle assessment are viewed as vital to drive eco-design for buildings, net zero carbon buildings, and energy-efficient buildings. This guidance aims to strengthen resilience to climate risks and support net zero carbon ambitions across the global construction industry.
Major suppliers and contractors such as Builders FirstSource and Granite are publishing detailed sustainability and corporate social responsibility reports. Reporting progress in responsible sourcing, use of renewable building materials, and integration of modular components reflects an increasing focus on building lifecycle performance and low carbon design. Transparency in lifecycle assessment and sustainable material specification contributes to decreasing the carbon footprint of construction and accelerates adoption of green construction principles.
Deepening concerns about the environmental impact of construction extend to ocean health, as new research highlights that microplastics interfere with natural carbon storage in marine ecosystems. Emphasising circular economy and circular economy in construction, companies are investing in waste minimisation and resource efficiency in construction. Recent initiatives, like Divert’s facility in North Carolina, showcase circular construction strategies, end-of-life reuse in construction, and low-impact construction.
International regulation targeting harmful substances, such as the US EPA’s action on PFAS, signals a movement towards safer, eco-friendly construction materials and resilient supply chains. The sector’s transition to carbon neutral construction, sustainable urban development, and the specification of green building products is accelerating, driven by both legislation and evolving best practice in sustainable building design and sustainable architecture.
