Construction industry leaders are accelerating sustainable construction with Wood Group awarded a major contract for the front-end engineering and design of a €1.5bn fossil-free plastics plant. This facility will produce plastics from methanol using renewable energy, rather than fossil fuels. Such innovation addresses embodied carbon and the whole life carbon of building materials, supporting decarbonising the built environment and reducing the carbon footprint of construction. The project demonstrates commitment to low embodied carbon materials and renewable building materials, vital for a net zero whole life carbon future.
In the UK, sustainable building design collaboration is advancing through a partnership announced at the Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum. RICS, RTPI, RIBA, and ICE will collaborate on sustainable urban development, policy, and climate resilience. By emphasising life cycle cost, resource efficiency in construction, and circular economy strategies, these bodies aim to enhance environmental sustainability in construction and advocate for best practices, including operational carbon reduction and sustainable material specification.
Digital traceability is becoming central to ensuring sustainable construction supply chains. New Look’s adoption of TrusTrace technology highlights the growing use of lifecycle assessment and digital tools to track environmental product declarations (EPDs). Such transparency is essential for circular economy in construction, facilitating the specification of green building materials, end-of-life reuse in construction, and reducing the overall environmental impact of construction projects.
Transparent reporting on sustainability progress continues to grow within the construction value chain. Willdan Group’s 2024 Corporate Sustainability Report highlights the trend towards detailed disclosure of emissions, energy efficiency measures, and whole life carbon assessment. These sustainability reports set critical benchmarks, encouraging suppliers and subcontractors to follow sustainable building practices and contribute to the net zero carbon buildings agenda through eco-design for buildings.
The international construction sector faces mounting pressures from climate change, evidenced by repeated heatwaves and droughts across Eurasia. These conditions underscore the urgency of resilient and low carbon building design, with a focus on energy-efficient buildings and carbon footprint reduction. Climate-adaptive solutions and green infrastructure will be key to safeguarding assets and ensuring the long-term building lifecycle performance needed in a rapidly changing environment.
