Amazon’s recent agreement with Brimstone signals a pivotal step toward decarbonising the built environment, reserving volumes of lower-carbon Portland cement from Brimstone’s upcoming facility. Cement is among the highest contributors to embodied carbon in materials, making this initiative a key example of low carbon construction materials gaining commercial traction. With demand for low embodied carbon materials rising across global markets, Amazon’s model may set a precedent for net zero whole life carbon procurement strategies within the construction industry.
In the UK, the expansion of the HyNet carbon capture, usage and storage infrastructure is strategically positioned to transform energy-intensive sectors including construction. Five new projects will link into HyNet’s CO₂ transport and storage network, supporting industrial decarbonisation and wider availability of lower-carbon building inputs. As nations pursue net zero carbon targets, integrated infrastructure such as HyNet plays a critical role in reducing the carbon footprint of construction and enabling wider adoption of whole life carbon frameworks in material sourcing.
ASWS’s award-winning refurbishment of 35 Dover Street exemplifies sustainable building design through energy-efficient retrofitting of heritage assets. Recognised as ‘Refurbishment Project of the Year’ at the SWA Awards 2025, the project prioritised conservation, reuse and high-performance upgrades. This reflects a shift in sustainable construction, where maintaining architectural legacy supports a circular economy in construction while lowering lifecycle emissions. The project highlights measurable gains from lifecycle assessment and whole life carbon assessment in retrofit-led strategies.
Procurement practices are emerging as a major lever for environmental sustainability in construction. JAGGAER’s 2024 ESG Impact Report underscores the importance of life cycle cost in decision-making and sourcing low carbon building solutions. As supply chains evolve to favour eco-friendly construction and sustainable material specification, early integration of sustainability into material procurement ensures alignment with sustainable building practices and long-term building lifecycle performance.
Technology-driven platforms are reshaping how construction connects to green energy. Wattch’s investment in solar and battery storage control systems is expected to benefit smart construction sites seeking to reduce emissions. While focused on the energy sector, such platforms support low-impact construction aligned with net zero carbon buildings, with increased resilience and efficiency at project level.
Lenovo’s modular Device as a Service (DaaS) model aims to curb IT waste across multiple industries including architecture, engineering and construction. By enhancing digital efficiency and reducing environmental impact, this approach complements the circular economy by extending asset lifecycles. Smart resource management in digital workflows contributes to more sustainable architecture and supports broader goals of decarbonising the construction value chain.
