The UK government’s allocation of £200 million to the Acorn carbon capture and storage (CCS) cluster represents a landmark effort in decarbonising the built environment. This initiative accelerates the adoption of green construction practices, significantly lowering the carbon footprint of construction and setting a benchmark for net zero whole life carbon targets. Deploying CCS technology across industrial zones enhances the environmental sustainability in construction and strengthens the foundation for net zero carbon buildings throughout the UK.
Recent funding of over £500 million for hydrogen production and infrastructure marks a pivotal step in expanding sustainable construction and green infrastructure. These investments foster low embodied carbon materials and eco-friendly construction through the development of advanced facilities and energy systems. With hydrogen recognised as integral to low carbon design, construction professionals are adopting life cycle thinking in construction to ensure new builds and retrofits benefit from improved lifecycle assessment and lower operational emissions, paving the way for energy-efficient buildings. Funding of over £500 million for hydrogen further enables low-carbon innovation.
Market trends reveal surging demand for sustainable building design, as property tenants seek out homes and workspaces with clear green credentials. This shift drives adoption of whole life carbon assessment and influences developers towards sustainable building practices that enhance building lifecycle performance. Emphasising embodied carbon in materials and the use of renewable building materials, the property sector is moving away from traditional models, embedding life cycle cost and circular economy principles into both new projects and retrofits.
Valmont Industries’ 2025 Sustainability Report sets out industry-leading approaches to reducing the environmental impact of construction products worldwide. Prioritising circular construction strategies and sustainable material specification, the report highlights the importance of eco-design for buildings and resource efficiency in construction. These strategies are reshaping supply chains and accelerating the transition to a circular economy in construction, extending the end-of-life reuse in construction materials and products.
The newly formed UK trade body for geothermal energy emphasises opportunities for construction firms to lead in delivering low-carbon infrastructure. Geothermal energy projects anchor sustainable urban development, facilitating both low-impact construction and carbon neutral construction approaches. These developments open avenues for the use of green building materials, reinforcing the sector’s role in achieving net zero whole life carbon objectives.
Institutional capital is reflecting this momentum, as evidenced by HA Sustainable Infrastructure Capital’s $1 billion green bond issuance. The availability of green finance affirms that sustainable design and environmental product declarations (EPDs) are no longer optional, catalysing further investments in renewable construction technologies and fostering greater adoption of sustainable architecture and green building products worldwide.
