A new digital roadmap developed by the University of Warwick is set to accelerate decarbonising the built environment, particularly within the UK steel sector. This sector contributes significantly to the embodied carbon in materials used across construction. The roadmap provides actionable pathways to reduce emissions and fosters the integration of low embodied carbon materials in heavy industry. It aligns with emerging policy requirements promoting whole life carbon assessment and life cycle thinking in construction, encouraging the adoption of low-carbon design at scale.
Award-winning kitchen developer T&N Developments is driving progress in low-impact interior construction by integrating CaberMDF, a reduced-emission engineered wood product, into its installations. This material choice supports both low embodied carbon and sustainable building practices, demonstrating eco-design for buildings at the fit-out level. The shift signals rising demand for renewable building materials and highlights the importance of environmental sustainability in construction beyond structural components.
At COP30, focus is intensifying on construction’s role in achieving net zero carbon targets. With buildings responsible for approximately 40% of global emissions, the sector is under scrutiny to deliver net zero whole life carbon solutions. Whole life carbon assessment and lifecycle assessment are expected to feature prominently in summit discussions, stressing the need for scalable frameworks to measure and manage the carbon footprint of construction.
The upcoming RWM Expo 2025 in Birmingham will spotlight circular economy in construction with a focus on resource efficiency in construction processes. Circular construction strategies and reuse models will be central themes, underscoring the need for workforce upskilling to support widespread implementation. The industry is being urged to prioritise whole life carbon and factored life cycle cost into every phase of the delivery process.
The launch of DRS International, a deposit return scheme consultancy, highlights growing interest in circular economy models that could extend to construction waste streams. While initially focused on consumer packaging, the underlying principles offer insights into scalable recovery systems for construction materials. These developments support environmental product declarations (EPDs), and align closely with end-of-life reuse in construction and broader sustainable material specification.
Efforts to reduce the environmental impact of construction are also advancing through recycling technologies designed to minimise virgin resource reliance in energy-efficient buildings. Innovations in battery and solar panel design advocate a circular economy that complements sustainable construction, providing essential tools for delivering carbon neutral construction and reducing the building lifecycle performance gap.
