The Berwick Bank offshore wind project has received formal approval from the Scottish Government, marking a significant achievement for green construction at scale. The 4.1GW project is expected to be one of the world’s largest and will play a major role in meeting the UK’s net zero carbon goals. The engineering and infrastructure involved push the boundaries of sustainable construction, supporting long-term ambitions for net zero Whole Life Carbon performance across the sector and encouraging adoption of low carbon design in large-scale installations.
Cemvita’s planned biotechnology facility in southern Brazil signals a shift in how hard-to-abate industries are beginning to address Whole Life Carbon impacts. By integrating carbon capture and sustainable production at the materials level, especially for cement and concrete, the project could become a model for reducing Embodied Carbon in construction materials. Initiatives like this align with the principles of Circular Economy in construction and reflect growing interest in low embodied carbon materials across global supply chains.
In India, Wavin’s divestment from Orbia’s Building & Infrastructure segment could lead to major shifts in sustainable material specification and innovation within the region. As a leader in water systems and green infrastructure, Wavin’s future under new ownership will be closely monitored by professionals committed to environmental sustainability in construction. The outcome may influence how sustainability is prioritised in rapidly urbanising regions, where eco-friendly construction and low carbon building systems are gaining momentum.
Across Europe, the European Commission has proposed streamlined sustainability reporting for SMEs to ease compliance without undermining targets related to Whole Life Carbon Assessment. This adjustment is expected to benefit smaller firms involved in green construction by reducing administrative burden, allowing more focus on sustainable design, Life Cycle Cost assessment, and implementation of environmental product declarations (EPDs). These regulatory evolutions may support more agile responses from smaller players in delivering sustainable building practices.
Smart building technologies are becoming integral to energy-efficient buildings, with IoT-driven systems now seen as essential for sustainable building design. Innovations in indoor air quality sensors, energy monitoring, and occupancy analytics are directly contributing to enhanced building lifecycle performance. These tools are helping construction professionals align with standards such as BREEAM and BREEAM V7 while facilitating Life Cycle Cost thinking in construction and reducing the carbon footprint of building operations.
Financial uncertainty remains a concern for sustainable architecture, as Barclays exits the UN’s Net-Zero Banking Alliance. This retreat raises questions about future funding for net zero carbon buildings and carbon neutral construction projects. Without strong financial backing, advancing resource efficiency in construction and supporting the transition to low carbon construction materials could become increasingly challenging, particularly for projects reliant on consistent investment in environmental sustainability.
