Barclays’ Climate Ventures arm has catalysed £500 million towards global clean technology investment in the last five years, combining over £200 million of its own funding with more than £300 million from co-investors. This commitment underlines rising confidence in green construction and whole life carbon innovation, targeting both embodied carbon in materials and the carbon footprint of construction activities. New investments prioritise eco-design for buildings, sustainable construction technologies, and renewable building materials, all essential for the transition towards net zero whole life carbon.
A recent EY study reveals companies fully integrating environmental sustainability in construction and broader operations are 40 per cent more confident about long-term business prospects compared to others. These ‘sustainability integrators’ prove the value of embedding sustainable building practices and life cycle thinking in construction, reinforcing the critical role of whole life carbon assessment and lifecycle assessment in achieving net zero carbon buildings. Confidence in sustainable design signals commercial resilience as the construction sector aligns with low carbon design and decarbonising the built environment.
The Alliance for Sustainable Building Products (ASBP) in the UK construction sector is increasing transparency by publishing Green Claims Policies under the Anti-Greenwash Charter. Organisations now must provide clear evidence for environmental claims about green building products, green infrastructure, and low embodied carbon materials. This step builds trust and supports environmentally sound specification, essential for sustainable building design and for meeting demands for environmental product declarations (EPDs) across the supply chain.
The UK government has introduced a ban on single-use vapes from 1 June, contributing to wider waste reduction and cleaner living and working environments. While not directly a construction-led initiative, the policy may influence site management and procurement, promoting circular economy principles and resource efficiency in construction. Waste minimisation actions such as these align with end-of-life reuse in construction and support a circular economy in construction projects.
The British Chambers of Commerce has warned that protecting the UK’s bioethanol industry is vital for achieving carbon neutral construction and operational carbon reduction, as bioethanol serves as a key transitional low-carbon fuel for construction plant and transport. Ensuring a stable bioethanol industry is critical for lowering the carbon footprint of construction and promoting low-impact construction methods during the net zero transition.
Climate action from local government continues, as seen in the climate change action plan under review by Mole Valley District Council. New measures aim to strengthen building lifecycle performance via improved building standards, increased adoption of low carbon construction materials, and promotion of sustainable material specification. Such strategies drive the adoption of renewable materials and accelerate progress towards sustainable urban development and carbon footprint reduction in the built environment.
