Understanding embodied carbon in your construction projects

Your guide to understanding and reducing embodied carbon in construction

With almost 40% of global carbon emissions generated by the built environment, considerable research, innovation and policymaking continues to target emissions reduction in this sector.

To date, this focus has been largely aimed at the sustainable operation of buildings, but with embodied carbon representing more than one quarter¹ of the construction industry’s GHG emissions and 11% of all emissions globally, momentum is growing for a whole-of-lifecycle approach to decarbonisation.

“Where operational carbon represents the energy that’s used to operate buildings and infrastructure, embodied carbon is baked in, generated in the selection, production and transportation of materials, the construction processes and then eventually in demolition,” explains Robyn Simpson, Coates National Manager - Environment & Sustainability. “As the energy efficiency of buildings and infrastructure improves, embodied carbon will account for a growing portion of total built environment emissions, making addressing construction phase carbon critical.”

As the energy efficiency of buildings increases, embodied carbon is a growing portion of total built environment emissions in construction

“Having the ability to understand and consistently measure embodied carbon will be key to achieving net zero and sustaining a low carbon future. Because if we don’t know how we are performing, how can we possibly set targets for improvement?” Robyn continues. “This is a journey that Coates and many of its customers have embarked on. For Coates, we use our asset circularity and energy-efficient fleet assets to reduce the impact of upfront embodied carbon on the built environment.”

Requirements and tools for managing embodied carbon in construction

• In July 2024 the national Environmentally Sustainable Procurement (ESP) Policy will take effect, ensuring high value public sector projects meet certain procurement standards in relation to climate, the environment and circularity.

• The NSW State Government recently issued the Decarbonising Infrastructure Delivery Policy and Measurement Guidance to grow the consideration given to embodied carbon in procurement, and improve consistency in how embodied carbon is measured.

• Infrastructure Victoria recently called on the federal government² to do more to help industry consistently measure and develop strategies to reduce embodied carbon in construction.

• The Infrastructure Sustainability Council’s Rating Scheme helps businesses to compare embodied carbon in materials, and measure performance in sustainable procurement, innovation and carbon offsetting.

“Public sector procurement policies and rating schemes like these are important levers for change. In some of these initiatives we’re also seeing circularity concepts being used to embed important sustainability principles in major government projects,” says Robyn.

“These measures also show that ahead of formal regulation, change can be achieved – because if there’s a multimillion-dollar project up for grabs, you’re going to meet the contract requirements, regardless of any legal requirement to do so.”

Circularity at Coates

Coates operates in the circular economy, leveraging the ‘share’ economy in its hire model. Robyn describes a strong and genuine desire to achieve positive environmental outcomes for Coates and its customers. “Enabling customers to hire rather than buy is foundational for Coates’ strength as a circular business,” she says. “Coates is working towards further circularity by reducing, re-using, repurposing and recycling, at both micro and macro levels.”

Guided by its Sustainability Strategy, Coates is committed to reducing value-chain emissions and continuing to prioritise sustainability innovation and education. Coates delivers on this commitment by:

• Investing in a dynamic and efficient fleet to meet growing sustainability standards

• Purchasing high quality, long-lasting equipment and materials

• Re-using, repurposing and remanufacturing equipment to extend its use

• Taking a leadership role, participating in circular economy accelerators and other industry events

• Recycling non-compliant and end-of-life products for sustainable asset disposal – following the introduction of a new Australian standard, Coates designed a recycling program for its non-compliant fleet of Armorzone plastic barriers.

The circular economy concept underpins Coates' sustainability plan

Reducing embodied carbon in your construction projects

Coates is equally committed to helping customers progress their sustainability goals, supporting informed and efficient project planning; and enabling customers to choose low-carbon equipment and construction processes.

Greener Choices

Coates’ Greener Choices range provides customers with low-carbon equipment to help reduce their scope 1 emissions. For example, by integrating hybrid generators, battery solar lighting and hybrid lighting from Coates during the FORMULA 1 ROLEX AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX 2024, the Australian Grand Prix Corporation displaced 3.5 tonnes of CO₂e (carbon dioxide equivalent, which includes greenhouses gases besides CO₂) and saved 1,300 litres of diesel over four days.

Solar powered lighting at the FORMULA 1 ROLEX AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX 2024

Sustainable site facilities

Hiring portable and modular site accommodation provides a low-carbon alternative to building permanent structures. And to further reduce embodied carbon, Coates continues to improve the performance of its fleet. “Each time a site accommodation unit comes off hire we assess it, and where required upgrade it to meet current standards. Additional energy efficiency measures are introduced, making it a great example of circularity,” says Robyn. “Coates is also partnering with a leading national contractor to customise and measure energy efficiency of a sustainable site compound. These units will support the low-carbon delivery of a major South Australian infrastructure project.”

Smart project planning

Coates’ proprietary asset management system, SiteIQ, informs customer equipment hire, preventing over-hiring and improving the accuracy of equipment taken to site. SiteIQ also reduces the transport requirement for major projects and industrial events, helping customers to understand and better plan around their equipment needs.

On-site tool stores

On-site tool stores help customers to minimises the daily requirement for transporting equipment to major project sites. Together with SiteIQ, the accountability that Coates’ tool store managers bring to the allocation of tools, equipment and consumables also improves hire efficiency, eliminates waste and reduces fuel consumption.

Coates offers mobile tool stores, tool store compound or tool trailers to suit the needs of any site

Re-usable shoring and propping

Coates’ hydraulic shoring solutions allow customers to implement robust and re-usable low-carbon temporary works. By using lightweight heavy-duty propping products like the proprietary Quadshore system, Coates customers can achieve a high degree of precision while eliminating waste from prefabricated single-use steel. These solutions also mitigate some of the energy that conventional propping structures require for installation, disassembling, transportation and manoeuvring on site.

Choosing the right equipment, processes and project partners is essential for reducing embodied carbon in construction. Connect with Coates to improve the sustainability of your next project.

Sources

¹Architecture 2030

²ABC News