Part of: Advancing Net Zero

Embodied Carbon

Embodied carbon from the construction and refurbishment of buildings currently makes up 20% of UK built environment emissions. While many leading developers and infrastructure organisations measure and optimise the embodied carbon footprint of their projects, it is far from being mainstream practice. UKGBC’s Advancing Net Zero team is working with experts across the industry to change this.

Despite being a significant source of carbon emissions in the UK, embodied carbon emissions are currently unregulated, and measurement and mitigation within construction is typically voluntary. As highlighted by UKGBC’s Net Zero Whole Life Carbon Roadmap, the accurate and consistent measurement and reporting of embodied carbon has become increasingly important to ensure meaningful and credible progress towards net zero carbon goals.

To achieve this, it’s essential that embodied carbon moves quickly from being a challenge only addressed by leading organisations, to one that is tackled by stakeholders across the built environment industry.

What is Embodied Carbon?

Embodied carbon refers to the emissions associated with materials and construction processes throughout the whole lifecycle of a building or infrastructure. This is typically associated with any processes, materials or products used to construct, maintain, repair, refurbish and repurpose a building.

Check out UKGBC’s explainer guide for more information on embodied carbon. These guides are written to demystify key sustainability concepts and create a common language for non-technical experts to confidently get involved in sustainable building topics.

Download the Explainer Guide here

What do we need to reduce embodied carbon in the built environment?

We need greater consistency from industry when modelling embodied carbon

We need greater transparency within the modelling and reporting process

We need responsible regulation from Government to accelerate industry action on embodied carbon

We need an official education route to improve the expertise of assessors

Recent news

11 industry and built environment expert bodies call on party leaders to commit to enacting embodied carbon regulation within the first six months of taking office after the next General Election.
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Projects and Resources

Latest Report

Embodied Carbon Scope 3 Measurement and Reporting

This new report seeks to align organisational GHG Scope 3 reporting and project-based embodied carbon assessments to show how establishing a coherent link can support emissions reductions efforts. The guidance demonstrates that integrating embodied carbon assessments directly within Scope 3 reporting would represent an easier, more centralised and more detailed solution than typical practices for GHG Protocol reporting.

Download the report here

Improving your modelling and reporting

Guidance for industry professionals

This report focuses on refining and improving the practices of embodied carbon modelling and reporting within the construction industry. It is aimed at practitioners undertaking embodied carbon modelling, and especially those who are new to the practice.

Widespread embodied carbon reporting is essential for the construction industry to effectively address its environmental impact and, as the practice is undertaken with increasing frequency, it’s important to ensure that it continues to be rigorous and reliable. Moving to greater transparency and consistency will enable informed decision-making and more sustainable practices across the construction sector.

Download the report here

Practical Guidance

How to write a project brief for embodied carbon assessments

This guide is designed for those who need to write effective briefs for commissioning their first embodied carbon measurements, but who may be at an early stage of embodied carbon knowledge. It is not a how-to guide for measuring carbon, or which method or tools should be adopted. The guidance provides straightforward information on how to develop a brief and ‘get the job done’.

Download the guidance here

Embodied Carbon as part of the bigger picture

Whole Life Carbon Roadmap

The Roadmap was launched at the beginning of a crucial decade for climate action, with the need for our industry to decarbonise clearer than ever. Critically, the trajectory demonstrates to industry and government that there is a clear pathway to net zero by 2050 for the built environment, setting out step-by-step actions for different stakeholders.

Embodied carbon from the construction and refurbishment of buildings makes up 20% of built environment emissions. Embodied carbon emissions are currently unregulated, and measurement and mitigation within construction is typically voluntary.

Legislation to measure and limit embodied carbon must be introduced at the earliest opportunity, alongside support for industrial decarbonisation of key material supply chains and reduced demand for new construction and materials through increased design efficiency, re-use and circularity.

Download the Roadmap

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Advancing Net Zero Partners

Our Advancing Net Zero work is made possible thanks to our programme partners

Embodied Carbon Project Partners

Our Embodied Carbon measurement and reporting project is made possible due to the generous support of our project partners.

Advancing Net Zero

Created in 2018 as part of a World Green Building Council initiative, UKGBC’s Advancing Net Zero programme has a mission to lead the UK’s transition to a net zero built environment. It has produced leading guidance such as the Net Zero Carbon Buildings Framework and the Net Zero Whole Life Carbon Roadmap, whilst working with organisations and experts across the industry.
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