The UK is set to enforce a new solar panel mandate for most new homes as part of the upcoming Future Homes Standard. This policy is endorsed by experts as a crucial advance toward net zero whole life carbon in residential development, reducing the carbon footprint of construction and helping drive innovation in energy-efficient buildings. The move strengthens the UK’s position in delivering net zero carbon buildings and reflects a wider industry push toward low carbon design and sustainable building design.
A newly launched UK cleantech hub is targeting a major source of embodied carbon in materials through advanced biomanufacturing solutions. By deploying specialised microbes to upcycle fossil-fuel-based waste, the initiative supports the development of circular economy in construction and circular construction strategies. This practice addresses landfill waste and moves the sector toward realistic adoption of a circular economy, enhancing environmental sustainability in construction and sustainable material specification.
Globally, decarbonising the built environment remains a principal focus. With mounting pressure on both regulators and businesses, the integration of whole life carbon assessment and lifecycle assessment into daily practices signals a transition from discussion to action. Improved tracking and management of whole life carbon, life cycle cost, and building lifecycle performance are becoming key differentiators in delivering sustainable construction outcomes.
Addressing Scope 3 emissions continues to challenge the sector, especially within construction supply chains. New expert guidance aims to assist companies in reducing embodied carbon and the environmental impact of construction by driving resource efficiency in construction and enabling carbon footprint reduction across every life stage. Informed supply chain strategies incorporating life cycle thinking in construction are essential as embodied carbon in materials and building processes gain prominence in corporate sustainability goals.
Major policy debates in Europe highlight the challenge of supporting genuine sustainability without imposing unnecessary regulatory burdens. The European Commission’s decision to withdraw the proposed Green Claims Directive draws renewed attention to the need for clear standards in green construction and eco-friendly construction, ensuring companies demonstrate authentic progress in reducing the environmental footprint and achieving carbon neutral construction.
With rising temperatures and climate risk at the forefront of public and political attention, sustainable building practices, sustainable design, eco-design for buildings, and green building materials are shaping the future of low carbon building and sustainable urban development worldwide. The momentum behind sustainability in construction continues, driving the adoption of renewable building materials and green building products essential to the industry’s evolving lifecycle assessment and environmental product declarations (EPDs) landscape.
