How the construction industry can address sustainability and achieve its 2050 ambitions
The construction industry has a key role to play in global efforts to achieve the Paris Agreement goal of reaching net zero by 2050. Currently, urban environments account for 39% of the world鈥檚 gross annual carbon emissions 鈥 meaning construction companies are on a journey to decarbonise their operations and the buildings they put up.1
To advance this journey, investments in solutions that deliver greater energy efficiency and lower carbon intensity have increased. In 2021 these investments rose by 16% to $237 billion, showing the importance of sustainability in the industry.2
However, with demand continuing to rise, efforts to improve efficiency must keep pace with the amount of floor space created by construction.2 There鈥檚 still plenty of road ahead for construction companies working to become more sustainable 鈥 along with plenty of solutions available to help them lay the foundations for their transition to net zero.
Avoiding a return to business as usual on emissions
A huge positive is that so many construction businesses are committed to driving change. There are already 170 companies signed up to the World Green Building Council鈥檚 Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment, which encourages bold action on addressing emissions in construction.3
The increased investment in energy efficiency means companies will be better placed to tackle the issue of energy consumption and CO2 emissions rising above pre-pandemic levels.2 And, when only 50% of the urban environment that needs to be in place by 2050 has so far been built, avoiding and reducing the emissions still to be generated.2
Companies should also look beyond energy efficiency. Estimates suggest that only 55% of total emissions can be addressed this way 鈥 and that addressing the remaining 45% requires a shift to more circular thinking.3 Simply put, the way construction produces and consumes materials must change.
To avoid a further return to business as usual when it comes to consumption and emissions, the industry needs to make the most of investments into more sustainable practices. So, how can construction companies do this? And how can they take advantage of the solutions already available to them while preparing to adopt the innovations set to drive the future of sustainable construction?
Exploring ways to build a more sustainable construction site
An effective way to create more sustainable construction operations is to make sure existing equipment reaches its full potential for productivity. Not only does this help to improve energy efficiency on site, but it also offers opportunities to reduce consumption and implement circular practices.
Three vital ways to get the most from construction equipment while reducing the environmental impact of a site include:
- Driving productivity through proactive maintenance
Four in ten construction companies say they often experience breakdowns because of ineffective lubrication, with 72% stating that issues with equipment reliability have led to unexpected costs.5 And the more inefficient equipment is, the more emissions a site is likely to generate with work taking longer. Effective maintenance helps to maximise equipment availability and keep machinery running as efficiently as possible to minimise emissions from construction work. Using high-performance lubricants can also improve fuel economy, helping to reduce CO2 emissions by 2.4%.6
There are effective ways to find the right lubricant to for each piece of equipment. By using a free online tool like Shell LubeMatch that recommends the best lubricant choices for vehicles and heavy-duty equipment, construction companies can easily implement the products that drive the efficiency of their operations.
- Reducing consumption through effective waste management
The industry also has an opportunity to rethink how it can avoid and reduce the materials it throws away during any given project. One such method is the use of packaging designed to be environmentally friendly. And this doesn鈥檛 just mean the ability to recycle the materials. By reducing the size and weight of packaging by 10%, companies can lower fuel consumption for transportation by up to 8.4%.7
Packaging isn鈥檛 the only thing construction companies can recycle either. There鈥檚 the potential to do this with the oils they use as well 鈥 helping to lower emissions. After all, the production of lubricating oil is the most energy-intensive process in a crude oil refinery. And used lubricants are often disposed of through burning, releasing further emissions.
Instead, base oils can be sourced from the re-refining of used oils as part of a process that removes old additives and dirt material before extracting the remaining base oil. These are known as re-refined base oils (RRBOs), which can be used to create new lubricant products. By using high-quality RRBOs, companies can maintain the performance of their equipment while reducing waste and improving their carbon footprint.
- Protecting equipment and the environment with biodegradable lubricants
Readily biodegradable lubricants protect a company鈥檚 equipment as well as the sensitive ecosystems in which they operate. Shell Naturelle lubricants are classed as readily biodegradable, meaning they are safe for the environment and have low ecotoxicity so they won鈥檛 harm plants or animals should an accidental leak or spill take place.8 The use of solar power during production of these lubricants also helps to reduce emissions, with any remaining unavoidable emissions compensated for to make the fluids carbon neutral.8 By using these types of lubricants, construction companies can improve the sustainability of their operations without compromising performance.
Sustainable construction innovations for the future
The three methods shown above are effective ways to maximise equipment operations for performance and sustainability that construction companies can implement right away. Here are a handful of the innovations that are set to help the industry tackle operational emissions as well as those embodied within buildings:
- Bricks with recycled content from cigarette butts 鈥 just as strong as conventional bricks, but they also require less energy to produce.9
- Glass made with a layer of hydrogel 鈥 as transparent as regular glass while designed to avoid trapping heat, reducing energy consumption for cooling buildings.10
- Bricks that absorb pollution 鈥 filtering air from outside to separate dust and other pollutants, making it cleaner and safer for breathing.11
- Roads that capture carbon emissions 鈥 with Shell Bitumen CarbonSink locking carbon in asphalt and bitumen, helping to reduce carbon footprints by up to six tonnes of CO2 equivalent (CO2e) per kilometre of road.12
Each of these solutions showcases the potential for sustainability through innovation. And, together, they can deliver a significant impact 鈥 helping construction companies to reduce emissions and implement circular practices across their operations.
Collaborating to create a better future for construction
A variety of solutions will need to work together to help construction deliver on its sustainability ambitions. That鈥檚 why Shell works closely with customers and partners to develop and deliver sustainable solutions that meet their specific needs. From proactive maintenance to biodegradable lubricants, we collaborate with construction companies to identify the right tools and technologies to avoid and reduce their emissions. All while helping to keep their equipment running smoothly and their projects running to time and on budget.
Disclaimers:
1 World Economic Forum. 鈥.鈥 2022.
2 UN Environment Programme. 鈥.鈥 2022.
3 World Green Building Council. 鈥.鈥 N.D.
4 World Economic Forum. 鈥.鈥 2021.
5 Based on Shell Internal test data
6 Shell. 鈥Managing Waste Effectively.鈥 N.D.
7 Shell. 鈥Five Things to Know About Shell Naturelle.鈥 N.D.
8 Lab Manager. 鈥.鈥 2020.
9 Interesting Engineering. 鈥.鈥 2022.
10 Shell. 鈥Shell Bitumen CarbonSink.鈥 N.D.
