Significant advances in sustainable construction are accelerating the global shift towards environmental sustainability in construction. The green steel market, crucial for lowering embodied carbon in materials, is projected to reach USD 7.4 billion in 2024. Supported by targeted government policies and investment, green steel is set for robust growth through 2029. These figures reflect the industry's prioritisation of decarbonising the built environment and reducing the carbon footprint of construction. Large-scale adoption of low carbon construction materials will play a pivotal role in sustainable building design and whole life carbon reduction in both new buildings and infrastructure.
In the UK, a new 10-year infrastructure strategy foregrounds clean energy integration, climate resilience, and economic growth. The strategy calls for innovative approaches, including whole life carbon assessment, promoting sustainable construction that carefully considers both lifecycle assessment and adaptability to emerging standards. This policy direction supports wider use of sustainable building practices, resource efficiency in construction, and eco-design for buildings to ensure minimal environmental impact of construction.
Progress at a financial level is marked by the introduction of new green finance frameworks, such as that launched by Primaris Real Estate Investment Trust. These frameworks are aligning funding with rigorous sustainability criteria, driving investments into net zero carbon buildings and sustainable urban development. Green finance is increasingly linked to life cycle cost and building lifecycle performance, encouraging stakeholders to embed net zero whole life carbon targets within the property and construction sectors.
A notable UK initiative focuses on circular economy innovation in construction, with funding secured for a biomanufacturing hub that upcycles landfill and industrial waste into renewable building materials. By applying biotechnology, this approach exemplifies circular economy in construction, advancing end-of-life reuse in construction and the use of low embodied carbon materials. The initiative demonstrates sustainable material specification and promotes eco-friendly construction practices enabling lower environmental impact throughout the supply chain.
Managing Scope 3 supply chain emissions remains a key challenge for the sector. A new report outlines practical strategies for reducing indirect emissions, supporting carbon footprint reduction at every stage of the construction process. As indirect emissions are often the dominant factor in lifecycle assessment, practical guidance in this area is critical for organisations aiming to achieve carbon neutral construction and competitive differentiation through transparent and verifiable environmental product declarations (EPDs).
The evolving compliance landscape is also shaping industry practice. Increased emphasis on accountability means construction projects increasingly depend on expert knowledge of sustainable design, low carbon design, and accurate assessment of whole life carbon. Expert witnesses are now more central in ensuring claims align with sustainability benchmarks, demanding robust evidence to avoid greenwashing and support the transition to genuinely low-impact construction across the sector.
