Saint-Gobain UK & Ireland has partnered with Vector Labs to explore the integration of graphene into construction materials, aiming for lighter, stronger and more energy-efficient buildings. If scalable, this innovation may significantly lower the embodied carbon in materials while supporting low carbon construction strategies. Such advances directly contribute to decarbonising the built environment and reflect an ongoing shift toward using low embodied carbon materials in structural components.
Transport for London has committed to using 50% reclaimed asphalt pavement across its network. This move aligns with circular construction strategies and highlights the growing adoption of circular economy in construction. Increased recycling of road surfacing materials can greatly reduce the whole life carbon of transport infrastructure projects and supports broader targets for net zero whole life carbon within urban development.
McLaren Construction recently completed a 421,000 sq. ft. industrial logistics site in St Helens. While not explicitly detailed, large-scale developments face rising expectations to incorporate sustainable building design principles. Projects of this scale must embed lifecycle assessment and whole life carbon assessment methodologies to ensure they meet sustainable building practices and reduce the overall carbon footprint of construction.
Rising enforcement penalties, such as the £62.8 million fine levied against Anglian Water for environmental breaches, signal increased scrutiny across infrastructure sectors. This places real importance on life cycle thinking in construction and a greater emphasis on environmental sustainability in construction planning, particularly to avoid reputational and regulatory risks.
Emerging research confirms that forests rich in biodiversity store up to four times more carbon than those lacking animal life, making them an essential component in offset schemes for net zero carbon buildings. For developers investing in nature-based solutions as part of sustainable material specification and whole life carbon strategies, preserving biodiversity in reforestation schemes is a measurable way to boost carbon offset effectiveness.
Construction firms operating globally must consider the environmental impact of construction in diverse jurisdictions. Brazil’s new environmental licensing law raises concerns over deforestation, highlighting the importance of integrating sustainable architecture and eco-design for buildings into all stages of planning, regardless of location. Global developers need to factor environmental due diligence into their sustainable urban development projects.
