We live in times of intense transformation. Climate change, resource scarcity, and the need for more balanced development challenge us to rethink the construction sector. More than merely addressing technical problems, professionals today, have the opportunity to co-create solutions that respect both the planet and people. With knowledge, collaboration, and innovation, they can lead the transition to more conscious and resilient construction practices.
Context
The reality is well-known: we live in a linear economy that consumes natural resources at an unsustainable rate and significantly contributes to climate change. Today, there are over 250 billion m² of buildings – a figure that grows by approximately 5.5 billion m² each year... equivalent to building a new city the size of Paris every week. Buildings account for about 40% of final energy consumption and 36% of greenhouse gas emissions. In the European Union, around 75% of the building stock is still energy inefficient. Continuing to build as before is no longer viable.
In the face of these challenges, the construction sector is undergoing transformation. The transition to circular and decarbonised models is already underway, driven by new legal requirements, technological innovation, and greater awareness of environmental impact. This article presents some of the strategies shaping this transformation – from the smart use of materials to digitalisation – and the role different sector actors have played in this process.
A Sector in Change: Demands and Opportunities
Decarbonising the construction sector involves reducing both embodied carbon emissions and operational emissions. This ambition aligns with the European Green Deal, which sets the goal of achieving carbon neutrality in the European Union by 2050. Along this path, the construction sector assumes a strategic role, supported by instruments such as the European Climate Law, which sets a target of at least a 55% reduction in emissions by 2030.
These objectives encourage the use of low-carbon materials and enhanced energy efficiency in buildings. Ambitious targets are further reinforced by the new European directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings, which highlights the measurement of embodied carbon emissions and the renovation of inefficient building stock. At the same time, financing models and investor expectations are prioritising projects with a positive environmental impact.
These changes have driven solutions that go beyond energy efficiency, including the careful selection of materials, adaptive design, and end-of-life strategies. The digitalisation of processes has enabled better data management and more informed decisions throughout the building lifecycle.
(Re)Thinking and (Re)Manufacturing Products
One of the most promising areas to reduce emissions in construction is the use of innovative, low-carbon, sustainable materials and products as alternatives to traditional, emission-intensive materials.
We must (re)think how we design and manufacture, how we select and specify products, to make them healthier and safer for people and the environment. Some innovations include:
Low-carbon cements and admixtures that extend the durability of concrete;
Recycled aggregates and mass timber as renewable alternatives;
Bio-based materials such as hemp, mycelium, cork, and bamboo, which absorb CO₂ during production;
Paints and finishes with low volatile organic compound content, healthier for humans and the environment.
When choosing materials, certifications like Cradle to Cradle Certified® help inform and support decisions. This certification assesses product performance across several categories and offers a clear framework to support more sustainable design and specification choices. Certified products tend to be safer, more circular, and more transparent, reinforcing trust between suppliers and designers.
Designing for Low Carbon
Decarbonisation in construction covers both embodied carbon (relating to production, transport, and construction) and operational carbon (energy use over the building’s lifecycle). Significant reductions of these emissions are possible through:
Passive designs that maximise natural light and cross ventilation;
Use of BIM (Building Information Modelling), which enables detailed planning and waste reduction;
Life cycle assessments (LCA), which support decisions based on the environmental performance of materials.
LCAs and Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) are becoming increasingly strategic in light of new regulatory requirements. The Construction Products Regulation introduces the obligation to report the Global Warming Potential for construction products placed on the European market. This information will be integrated into digital material passports, foreseen by the Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR).
Clean Energy and Efficiency
The electrification of buildings, combined with renewable energy generation, allows for a drastic reduction in operational emissions. Some existing solutions include:
Heat pumps for efficient climate control;
Intelligent automation to adjust lighting, ventilation, and heating;
Integration with smart grids and solar panels that optimise consumption based on energy availability.
Smart buildings connected to smart grids can automatically adjust their energy use based on the availability of renewable energy, maximising efficiency.
Integrating the Circular Economy
Designing buildings as material banks, with a focus on future disassembly, extends their lifecycle and reduces the need to extract new resources. This concept involves reusing materials, eliminating waste, and designing buildings considering their full lifecycle, from construction to demolition or reuse.
This transformation requires a long-term vision but also a practical and measurable framework. The definition of roadmaps towards circularity, not only for projects but also organisations, offers such a bridge. Based on detailed diagnostics — such as material flow analyses, impact assessments, and stakeholder mapping — it is possible to design strategies aligned with specific circularity targets.
Data, Transparency, and Collaboration
Digital tools are transforming how we plan and manage buildings:
Digital Twins — digital simulations that optimise building energy performance even before construction begins;
IoT sensors optimise real-time operation;
Digital material passports, required by new European regulations, collate essential data for informed decisions. These are digital repositories where all product information is stored throughout its lifecycle — from technical data to environmental performance information. This system improves transparency among stakeholders and facilitates informed decisions about maintenance, renovation, or demolition.
To achieve holistic decarbonisation, the sector needs to collaborate closely with architects, engineers, contractors, manufacturers, and the entire value chain. It is necessary to work together from the early design phases, where important choices related to the building’s form and materials can be influenced. Successful implementation of low-carbon construction techniques depends on effective collaboration among all parties.
Structural Barriers and How to Overcome Them
Despite progress, the sector still faces obstacles. The fragmentation among disciplines, the lack of structured data, and the lack of sustainable alternatives continue to hinder the widespread adoption of good practices. Many environmental-impact decisions are made in early stages without the involvement of all relevant players. Furthermore, the sector has historically been slow in adopting new technologies and practices.
Overcoming these barriers involves creating more collaborative processes and reinforcing transparency in the value chain. Data sharing, standardisation of circularity metrics, and strengthening technical capacity are key elements to accelerate change.
There are no one-size-fits-all solutions. But we know that efficient tools and methodologies already exist to create built environments that are fairer, more circular, and more resilient. By integrating innovation, responsibility, and collaboration, organisations and their professionals become central agents in building a more sustainable future – not only for the sector but for society as a whole.
Conclusion
Sustainable construction is no longer a vision of the future – it is a reality. The challenge now is to scale good practices, create value, and turn intentions into concrete impact.
More than merely complying with standards, companies in the sector today have the opportunity to shape the construction of tomorrow: anticipating trends, positively influencing value chains, and responding coherently to society’s expectations. Through strong partnerships, effective strategies, realistic implementation plans, credible certifications, and well-defined roadmaps, it is possible to build not only buildings — but also futures. Futures in which construction contributes to environmental regeneration, social equity, and lasting economic prosperity.
If you seek guidance to align your projects with these trends, talk to us. At Sustenuto, we help transform sustainable ambitions into tangible strategies. We work with organisations and teams to integrate these dimensions coherently and effectively, contributing to a more resilient and regenerative sector.
