Efforts to minimise avoidable plastic in construction are intensifying, as industry groups in the UK highlight the environmental impact of construction plastics. Reducing plastic waste directly supports the circular economy in construction and facilitates resource efficiency in construction. Industry campaigns are now encouraging the adoption of sustainable building practices, such as specifying low embodied carbon materials and sustainable material specification, ensuring the carbon footprint of construction is addressed from the outset.
Manchester’s strategic rollout of 64,000 heat pumps signals a shift towards net zero carbon buildings and low carbon design in regional development. By prioritising energy-efficient buildings and strengthening commitments to whole life carbon reduction, local authorities set benchmarks for decarbonising the built environment through real-world projects. The focus on whole life carbon assessment and net zero whole life carbon highlights the increasing importance of lifecycle assessment in public infrastructure planning.
Technological progress is also driving environmental sustainability in construction. Biffa’s new zero-to-landfill facility in Inverness exemplifies the shift towards circular construction strategies and end-of-life reuse in construction. The facility’s operations help decouple economic growth from landfill dependency, underpinning the need for life cycle thinking in construction and innovative waste management to reduce the environmental impact of construction.
Singapore’s integrated approach provides a blueprint for sustainable urban development worldwide, advocating for green infrastructure and eco-design for buildings to meet ambitious climate adaptation targets. This approach to sustainable building design balances liveability with building lifecycle performance, supporting the emergence of eco-friendly construction on a global scale.
Collaboration remains crucial, with initiatives such as the UK Green Building Council’s partnership with Breakthrough Energy and FORE Partnership advancing sustainable innovation. By injecting capital into pioneering solutions, the industry drives sustainable design, encourages green building materials, and fosters the adoption of renewable building materials. These measures are essential to achieving net zero carbon and transforming sustainability ambitions into proven outcomes for the construction sector.
