The UK construction sector is making strong progress in environmental sustainability by prioritising sustainable construction practices and green advancements. Recent contracts, like Cube Glass’s projects with Tesco in Yorkshire and the University of Glasgow, emphasise eco-design for buildings, precision manufacturing and a shift towards energy-efficient buildings. Innovations in building lifecycle performance and sustainable building design are shaping construction and refurbishment of key infrastructure, reflecting a move towards low carbon design and operational carbon reduction.
In the energy sector, ABB’s automation and cybersecurity deal for the HyNet CCS project signals a commitment to decarbonising the built environment through carbon capture and storage, aiming for net zero carbon buildings across industry. Costain’s appointment for designing an advanced nuclear fuels facility underscores the country’s low carbon building transition and supports a green infrastructure that is measured by Whole Life Carbon and life cycle thinking in construction.
Resource efficiency in construction is under scrutiny as global reports reveal only 6.9% of materials used annually come from recycled content, highlighting the urgent need for circular economy in construction and end-of-life reuse in construction. The construction sector is being urged to adopt circular construction strategies and specify low embodied carbon materials to reduce the carbon footprint of construction and promote sustainable building practices in line with circular economy principles.
The UK Government’s support of the carbon credit market is expected to boost sustainable urban development and economic growth, benefiting construction with the creation of skilled jobs and new incentives for carbon footprint reduction. Carbon trading mechanisms are designed to support life cycle cost optimisation, incentivise innovations in low carbon construction materials, and foster net zero whole life carbon assessment across the sector.
Record global temperatures and intensified climate risks keep the focus on climate-resilient, eco-friendly construction. The need for lifecycle assessment and sustainable material specification increases as the sector responds to extreme weather impacts, such as shrinking reservoir levels from an unusually dry spring. Emphasis is growing on water-efficient, renewable building materials and designing solutions that support carbon neutral construction and long-term environmental sustainability in construction.
Affordable, clean energy continues to be a key issue for the UK’s green construction ambitions. Lower electricity prices are seen as vital for enabling the construction sector to deliver on net zero carbon and sustainable design goals, enhancing the environmental impact of construction and accelerating progress towards whole life carbon reduction.
