Construction Industry - your carbon footprint and how to reduce it

Do you work in the Construction industry? With the rising global awareness of climate change, it is more important than ever to consider your company's carbon footprint. As construction is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, it is vital to measure and reduce your carbon footprint. By doing so, you can improve your company's reputation and appeal to environmentally conscious clients, while also saving money through energy-efficient practices.

On average, 51% of your carbon footprint will be from direct, scope 1 emissions

The carbon footprint of a company in the construction industry is primarily composed of scope 1 (direct) emissions, construction materials, waste disposal and business travel.

Carbon Footprint of an Example SME in the Construction Industry Carbon footprint of an average construction company pie chart

Note – this is an SME who does not travel internationally, i.e. minimal international flights. If you travel internationally, this will significantly increase the carbon footprint of your business travel.

How to reduce your carbon footprint from scope 1 (direct) emissions, construction materials, waste disposal and business travel

Reduce your scope 1 emissions

Scope 1 emissions are direct emissions. They come from sources owned or controlled by your company, like burning fuel in company vehicles or on-site equipment.

Improve energy efficiency: invest in energy-efficient equipment and processes to reduce the amount of fuel consumed in operations.
Fuel switching: replace high-emission fuels like coal or oil with lower-emission options such as natural gas or biofuels.
Vehicle fleet management: opt for electric or hybrid vehicles and implement efficient driving practices to reduce fuel consumption.
On-site renewable energy: install solar panels, wind turbines, or other renewable energy sources to power operations, decreasing the reliance on fossil fuels.

Reduce your emissions from construction materials

Design for sustainability: designing buildings and structures with sustainability in mind can also help reduce carbon emissions from construction materials. This can involve incorporating features like passive heating and cooling, green roofs, and water-saving systems to reduce the environmental impact of the construction process. We would recommend looking at the UK Green Building Council as a source of useful information.
Use low-carbon materials: one of the most effective ways to reduce carbon emissions from construction materials is to use low-carbon alternatives. For example, materials like timber, bamboo, and hemp have lower carbon footprints than traditional materials like concrete, steel, and aluminum (check out Green Building Supplies or ECOR).
Reduce transportation emissions: by sourcing materials locally or using alternative transportation methods like electric or hybrid vehicles, companies can significantly reduce the carbon footprint of their construction materials.
Reuse or recycle construction materials whenever possible (we would recommend taking a look at the work B-Corp, Recycling Lives.
Choose to work with suppliers committed to sustainable practices.

Minimise your waste

Reduce: minimise waste generation by using fewer resources and avoiding unnecessary packaging materials.
Reuse: implement practices that promote reusing items, such as using refillable containers and repurposing materials (take a look at our friends at Club Zero).
Recycle: set up recycling programs for paper, plastic, glass, and metal waste, and educate employees on proper recycling practices.
Composting: establish composting systems for organic waste, such as food scraps, to reduce methane emissions from landfills.
Sustainable procurement: purchase products made from recycled or sustainably sourced materials, and prioritise suppliers with eco-friendly waste management practices (IT equipment can be a big source of carbon emissions from businesses, check out Klyk for sustainable IT solutions).
Efficient inventory management: optimise inventory management to minimise s waste of perishable items.
Digitise: reduce paper waste by transitioning to digital documents, communication, and record-keeping.
Waste audits: Conduct regular waste audits to identify areas for improvement and monitor waste reduction progress.
Collaborate with waste management partners: work with local waste management companies to ensure the proper disposal and recycling of waste materials (we love the work B-Corp Recycling Lives do and Terracycle have solutions for hard-to-recycle materials).

Make responsible choices in business travel

Have virtual meetings where possible
Encourage use of public transport and carpooling (Route Zero is a great tool to compare the carbon footprint of journeys)
Direct flights: if air travel is necessary, choose direct flights to minimise layovers and reduce the overall carbon emissions associated with take-off and landing.
Efficient trip planning: consolidate trips and plan efficient itineraries to minimise the amount of travel needed.
Green vehicle rentals: if renting a vehicle is necessary, choose fuel-efficient, hybrid, or electric vehicles (we’re planning to try Green Motion for our next trip).
Sustainable travel policies: develop and implement company-wide sustainable travel policies to guide employees in making eco-friendly choices and promote a culture of sustainability.
Book eco-friendly accommodation: book environmentally conscious hotels or shared accommodation, like Airbnbs, that have lower emissions. To help you book environmentally conscious hotels, Staze is a platform that helps companies make net zero hotel bookings. Using Staze you can compare the carbon emissions of different hotels, just as you would compare their prices. Every booking made through Staze is offset for free, which means the platform invests in carbon reduction projects to counterbalance the emissions generated by your stay. Companies using Staze have reduced their emissions from hotel bookings by up to 70%.

Your next steps

To show your company is serious about sustainability and not simply using it as a buzzword, we recommend starting by measuring your carbon footprint (we used our friends at Zellar) and setting a science-based net zero target. By making conscious choices in business travel, energy consumption and waste management by using platforms like Staze, you can significantly lower your environmental impact while still achieving your business objectives.