Understanding embodied carbon in your construction projects

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

To date, this focus has been largely aimed at the sustainable operation of buildings. Still, with embodied carbon representing more than one-quarter of the construction industry’s GHG emissions and 11 per cent 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,” said Robyn Simpson, National Manager – Environment & Sustainability at Coates. “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.”

“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?” Simpson said. “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 increase the consideration of embodied carbon in procurement and improve consistency in how it is measured.
Infrastructure Victoria recently called on the federal government 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.”

The role of a circularity

The circular economy concept aims to eliminate waste and promote sustainability through reuse and resource efficiency. Through sharing, reusing, repurposing, remanufacturing and recycling, this model creates a closed-loop system that minimises resource consumption.

Coates operates in the circular economy, leveraging the ‘share’ economy in their hire model, says Robyn. “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, reusing, 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.

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 greenhouse gases besides CO2) and saved 1,300 litres of diesel over four days.

Sustainable site facilities

Hiring portable and modular site accommodation provides a low-carbon alternative to building permanent structures. 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 the 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 customers of equipment hire, preventing over-hiring and improving the accuracy of equipment taken to the 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 tools stores

On-site tool stores help customers minimise 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.

Re-usable shoring and propping

Coates’ hydraulic shoring solutions allow customers to implement robust and reusable 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.