The development sector needs to have a relentless focus on reducing embodied carbon in construction, Natali Cooper, Europe head of portfolio, asset management and ESG at developer GLP urged at Expo Real in Munich.
‘We did an analysis where we really looked at where we can have an impact and being a developer this is what we have in our control,’ she said. ‘So, we put a lot of focus on improving the building specification, procurement and so on.’
Cooper said that until recently the focus in the real estate industry had been on minimising operational carbon emissions, but that this ignored the fact that 70% of emissions in most buildings are associated with construction.
‘Embodied carbon was always put to the side and not really seen as a critical element,’ she said. ‘But as the developer, of course, it's critical. 70% is a huge number and considering how much we are building and developing it's a really critical path.’
Of course, the industry still leans towards using steel and concrete, especially for large commercial buildings, but Cooper says that alternative materials are available and are starting to look promising.
‘You do have alternatives to concrete, so what we've been doing is piloting a number of these technologies, new materials, more sustainable, low-carbon materials, and trying to test them and see how this could work in the long term,’ she said.
‘If the industry is going to adopt a much more sustainable approach and try to use these low-carbon materials, prices will go down. We will all get more comfortable with using these materials.’
