Workstream 4: Resource use and embodied carbon

The workstream is looking at protocols for minimising waste and for re-use of materials to be established, implemented and monitored. The initial focus is carbon and the climate emergency but in time this should expand to cover all resources and respond to wider construction issues.

This workstream is led by the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE) and includes measurable deliverables divided into three priority groupings: short-term, medium term and long term.

What have participants achieved so far?

Workstream 4 activity has included:

• Development of guidance by the IStructE Sustainability Panel for use by industry on the value of Environmental Product Declarations and how to assess them
• The Part Z initiative to measure and regulate embodied carbon through the Building Regs is a key part of WS4 activity and this was presented to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) who have now commissioned in-depth research into the impact of embodied carbon regulation, and has committed to running a public consultation on its approach
• Part Z’s Technical Steering Group, is analysing some 550 responses stemming from the consultation run over the summer period. Consultation feedback is being fed into ongoing decision-making around items such as carbon limits and required approach to offsetting. A technical writer is in the process of being hired to start writing with an aim of producing a public draft of the Standard itself in 2024.
• Workstream 4 member organisations continue to support the Joint Board of Moderator’s roll-out, across universities, to embed sustainability in the curriculum
• GGBS white paper now launched and available at https://www.istructe.org/resources/guidance/efficient-use-of-ggbs-in-reducing-global-emissions/
• The research for a paper similar to the GGBS one has started, now reviewing global supply and use of scrap steel. A similar approach is being taken in terms of research, authors and intended audience.
• Workstream 4 organisations attended the worked with the UAE Regional Group to agree the need for a series of ‘fringe’ events during COP28 held in Dubai. The fringe events concentrated on a half-day CPD workshop on embodied carbon counting, and a half-day panel discussion event on the reuse of Dubai’s existing building stock
• A Sustainability Skills Survey was carried out by IStructE with the following observations:
  • Members of UK large firms are leading in EC counting compared to smaller size firms. However, there is more work required on other topics outside of embodied carbon throughout the whole membership
  • Firms are including sustainability within their priorities but don’t feel well equipped to deliver. IStructE need to understand where the key areas of project delivery are that we can support with for example specifications, contracts, comments on construction programme, notes on drawings
  • Client interest has increased but cost is still their main design driver
• Circular Economy and Reuse guide has now was launched at an event on 11 July and is available at https://www.istructe.org/resources/guidance/circular-economy/

To support and raise awareness of what is in place or being developed, workstream 4 has also covered the following topics:

• UKGBC Whole Life Carbon Road Map Project (https://www.ukgbc.org/ukgbc-wo...)
• LETI Embodied Carbon and Whole Life Carbon one pages (https://www.leti.london/one-pa...)
• Embodied carbon target alignment work (led by LETI)
• Zero carbon definitions with WLCN and RIBA
• Built Environment Carbon databases (led by RICS) https://www.becd.co.uk/

Next steps

How do Professional institutions build on what is in place, and support and equip their membership to act today?

IStructE has published a Sustainability Resource Map (https://www.istructe.org/resources/climate-emergency/) , with hyperlinks to all documents referenced. All 7 topics are of relevance to other CIC members. In the context of this workstream fellow CIC members are encouraged to use the resources identified in the mapping under the topics of Low Carbon, Lean Design and Zero Waste. These will be directly relevant or will provide ideas and templates for specific actions.

Further webinars are being planned for this workstream to help collaboration and share the progress of the individual participants.

Resources Library

• Part Z

This proposed Building Regulations amendment ‘Part Z’ and Proposed Document Z outlines requirements on the assessment of whole life carbon emissions, and limiting of embodied carbon emissions, for all major building projects.

https://part-z.uk/proposal

• RICS Building Carbon Database

The aim of the database is to allow users to identify where associated carbon emission reductions can be made, during all stages of a building's life cycle. To access the data, users are required to input construction project data into the database (both theoretical and completed projects), which in turn allows users to estimate/benchmark whole life carbon emissions. For organisations who submit their data, the database is free to use.

https://www.rics.org/uk/produc...

• LETI Embodied Carbon Primer

This document is intended to provide designers including architects, engineers, interior designers and urban designers with easy-to-follow best practice and toolkits for reducing embodied carbon in buildings.

The document can also aid planners to be aware of strategies available to designers to reduce embodied carbon in building design, and how planning recommendations on materials, massing and treatment of sites may affect embodied carbon.

https://www.leti.london/ecp

• A Brief Guide to Calculating Embodied Carbon (article)

Explainer on how to calculate Embodied Carbon

https://www.istructe.org/IStru...

• How to Calculate Embodied Carbon

Calculating embodied carbon in the same rigorous way across all designs will allow meaningful comparisons to be made between structural schemes.

This guidance is equally applicable to infrastructure and building projects. The calculation of embodied carbon must become a key part of every design process. Such efforts support the immediate need to reduce resource demand and increase reuse and recycling to enable a circular economy.

https://www.istructe.org/resou...