Global Study Shows Progress on Construction’s Decarbonisation

Industry News Sustainability

PROGRESS in reducing embodied carbon in construction through the use of life cycle assessments (LCA) is reported in a new global study.

The fresh study by One Click LCA reveals respondents have successfully reduced carbon by between 10-30% by using the information in their purchasing decisions.

However, further progress is stalled by gaps in regulation and LCA data.

The findings also highlight a strong industry need for carbon transparency, with over 80% of all respondents stating that environmental product declarations (EPDs) influence material purchasing decisions in building projects.

In its annual global Carbon Experts Report for 2025 released today, One Click LCA explores the positive impact of life-cycle assessments on reducing embodied carbon in construction. It examines the increasing influence of building material choices, and the barriers to further progress.

LCAs are tools for calculating the environmental impact of processes and products during their life cycle. Respondents come from both the manufacturing and architect, engineering, and construction (AEC) professionals sectors.

The report identifies a significant embodied carbon reduction possibility with construction life-cycle assessments. More than 60% of AEC respondents estimate reductions of at least 10%, showing the significant decarbonization impact of widespread LCA adoption in the industry.

Encouragingly, 31% of respondents have already successfully reduced embodied carbon by up to 20% through LCA use, while 23% have achieved reductions of up to 30%.

These findings are supported by One Click LCA’s own research, which shows that carbon emissions can be reduced by more than one-third if the lowest-carbon-emitting products are selected for all materials in a building.

Most (86%) of surveyed manufacturers expect to cut carbon in product development by up to 30%. Half aim for reductions of up to 10%, while 36% plan to cut between 11% and 30%.

Confidence among manufacturers has risen since the last study was published in early 2024, when 59% of the respondents saw a reduction potential of 10-30%.

Lack of Sustainability Regulations Slow Progress

The report points to critical barriers hindering progress toward a low-carbon built environment. These include a lack of robust national regulations, which 85% of AEC professionals cite as a core hurdle.

This obstacle was also noted in the 2024 study. Implementing consistent carbon reduction strategies across projects and regions remains challenging, as there are great variations in national regulation and a lack of clear and consistent policies.

“The construction value chain is critical in our collective effort to address climate change. We hope these findings serve as a call to action for the industry and regulators. We are now at a tipping point where technology, market demand, and regulations are coming together to speed up sustainable practices across the construction value chain. The path to decarbonization requires sustained commitment from all stakeholders,” said One Click LCA CEO, Panu Pasanen.

EPD Demand to Grow

In addition to widespread LCA adoption, Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) which show a product’s environmental impact and performance, are becoming increasingly critical in material selection and procurement decisions throughout the global construction industry.

Both manufacturers and AEC professionals agree that EPDs influence material purchasing decisions, with 89% and 83% of respondents confirming this, respectively.

Nearly 50% of manufacturers identify improved market position as the primary benefit of EPDs, while almost 40% view EPDs as essential for staying competitive.

The vast majority of respondents see increased carbon transparency between supply and demand sides as vital for improved sustainability in the industry.

Significant obstacles slow EPD adoption. More than 80% of manufacturers say high costs and the complexity of creating and verifying EPDs are major bottlenecks.

Many manufacturers also struggle with the technical requirements of producing EPDs. The fragmentation of EPD data makes adopting LCA and EPD practices even more complicated, hinting at a need for greater carbon – and data – transparency between the demand and supply sides.

Read the full report here.