With the threat of a climate emergency on the horizon, everyone involved in the built environment has been tasked with the challenge of decarbonisation and together, significant progress is being made. Historically, the focus has been on reducing the operational emissions of buildings with new technology and materials helping to cut down energy consumption. To keep the momentum towards net zero, our attention must now turn to embodied carbon.

Embodied carbon refers to the emissions associated with building materials, from manufacturing to transportation and using them in construction. The production of materials such as concrete, steel and glass accounts for around 8% of global CO2 emissions, with cement – the key ingredient of concrete – the largest contributor.

With that in mind, we should perhaps have already seen a rapid rise in the use of alternative, more innovative materials which are kinder to the planet. Yet, the reality is that we have a disconnect between technological advancements and regulatory acceptance.

Some positive developments in terms of alternatives are happening. Different steel fabrication sites are taking steps to make better use of renewable inputs, such as energy sources, and other companies are introducing new types of bio-based additives to strengthen concrete without the need for as much cement. Engineered cross-laminated timber (CLT) or glue-laminated timber (glulam) is also being used for various commercial property projects, offering levels of structural integrity on par with steel plus a significant boost to sustainability.

However, the current environment only allows for this to go so far. Recent building safety legislation – while set to make major improvements in terms of fire safety – could stifle the pace of widespread innovation, particularly for residential buildings. Traditional materials and techniques are still favoured by the majority, as they carry a lower level of risk and are much better understood, making it more straightforward to get the required go-ahead for projects.

While not impossible, it would now likely take years and rack up huge costs to obtain the necessary certification for an urban high-rise building using engineered timber in the UK. The two-hour fire rating needed for multiple-storey developments is just one example. There is also a question of viability for a developer and its investors, as well as the difficulty of insuring a building of this kind. We cannot build buildings that cannot be insured or occupied.

Future policy could play an important role in pulling this together and perhaps the answer lies overseas, looking at how other nations are embracing innovation. Take a trip to France and you will see plenty of evidence of timber being used as a primary building material on construction sites. In this case, the widespread adoption has been influenced by a national regulation for all new buildings – RE2020 – introduced in 2020 to accelerate the pace of low-carbon buildings and reduce emissions both during construction and operation. Alongside the new rules, the French Government is also investing heavily to facilitate innovation and create the infrastructure required to support the next generation of construction.

The country is being watched closely as a frontrunner in green construction, with no other European nation having such ambitious legislation. While it may have some impact on build costs, with greener materials requiring higher upfront costs, it is undoubtedly a catalyst for change.

It may not be the right approach for the UK, but there must be a push to encourage the construction sector to increase its use of different materials. Of course, bringing anything non-standard to the market will come with its challenges, and the costs also need to stack up, but there are certainly signs of an appetite for change.