Reducing Embodied Carbon in Buildings with Low-Carbon Concrete

As climate accountability intensifies, real estate developers, sustainability teams, and procurement leaders face increasing pressure to demonstrate near-term progress alongside long-term net-zero targets.

One of the biggest (and often overlooked) levers? Embodied carbon in buildings.

While operational emissions have long been the focus of decarbonization strategies, there’s a growing realization that the materials used to construct our buildings carry a significant—and immediate—carbon cost. And those decisions are being locked in right now.

What Is Embodied Carbon in Buildings?

Embodied carbon refers to the greenhouse gas emissions associated with building materials throughout their lifecycle: extraction, manufacturing, transportation, construction, and end-of-life.

Operational carbon can be managed over time, while embodied carbon is front-loaded—it’s emitted before a building even opens its doors.

Embodied carbon can account for up to 50% of a building’s total emissions over its lifetime. For new construction, that figure is even higher during the first 20 years.

Why It’s a Rising Priority for Corporate Sustainability and Procurement

As pressure mounts from investors, regulators, and tenants, embodied carbon is quickly shifting from a niche sustainability metric to a material business risk and opportunity.

• Scope 3 Disclosure: Reporting frameworks like CDP, SBTi, and CSRD now expect embodied emissions data.
  
• Buy Clean Policies: Governments are adopting policies that require or reward low-carbon materials in public and private projects.
  
• Tenant & Investor Expectations: ESG-focused occupiers are factoring embodied carbon into leasing decisions and green building benchmarks.
  
• Financial Value: Reducing embodied carbon can improve GRESB scores, reduce TCO, and mitigate stranded asset risk.

Why Concrete Matters for Embodied Carbon in Buildings

Concrete is the most used building material on Earth—and one of the largest contributors to embodied carbon in buildings. That’s primarily due to cement, which is responsible for about 7% of global CO₂ emissions.

The good news: solutions exist. And they’re deployable today.

Technologies like CarbonCure’s CO₂ mineralization allow producers to permanently store captured carbon inside concrete, reducing emissions without compromising strength, durability, or cost.

See how companies like Amazon and Deloitte are using low carbon concrete in our Embodied Carbon Hub.

Actionable Steps to Reduce Embodied Carbon in Construction Projects

Here’s how you can move from awareness to action—without blowing your timeline or budget.

1. Start with Data

Use EPDs (Environmental Product Declarations) and LCAs (Life Cycle Assessments) to benchmark embodied carbon in your current and upcoming projects.

2. Integrate Carbon into Procurement

Add embodied carbon limits or preferences into RFPs, supplier scorecards, and bid reviews. Use platforms like EC3 to compare materials across vendors.

3. Align Finance & Facilities

Use Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) models that factor in long-term financial, regulatory, and reputational risk. Lower carbon doesn’t have to mean higher cost.

4. Work With Innovative Suppliers

Look for producers using technologies like CarbonCure that deliver measurable carbon reductions and support credible carbon credit generation if desired.

A Collaborative Opportunity to Lead

Corporate real estate teams, procurement functions, and sustainability leaders are uniquely positioned to drive change within their own buildings and across their broader value chains.

By setting embodied carbon targets, updating specifications, and choosing lower-carbon materials, companies can:

• Reduce Scope 3 emissions
  
• Meet investor expectations
  
• Strengthen ESG reports
  
• Demonstrate climate leadership today—not just by 2050

Ready to Get Started?

Explore the full Embodied Carbon Hub →