Embodied Carbon Assessment for Net Zero
Measure, benchmark, and reduce the upfront carbon of your buildings to align with the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard.
What this is
Following the Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard and UKGBC framework, embodied carbon must be assessed at early design stages, compared against industry benchmarks, and improved throughout the design process. A detailed and accurate assessment must be produced post-completion so the correct number of offsets can be purchased to declare net zero. We assessed one of Europe's first Net Zero projects through the Construction Carbon verification scheme.
Why embodied carbon matters now
Standards alignment
Aligns projects with the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard and UKGBC framework requirements.
Early-stage savings
Catching carbon hotspots at RIBA Stage 2 unlocks reductions of 20 to 40 per cent with little or no cost impact.
Verified results
Construction Carbon and similar certification routes need rigorous, independently checked data from baseline through to as-built.
Offset accuracy
A precise post-completion assessment means you only purchase the offsets you actually need to declare net zero.
Future-proof investment
Investors and tenants increasingly screen assets on embodied carbon performance.
Who this is for
Project teams
- Developers pursuing Net Zero Carbon certification
- Architects designing to UKGBC or LETI benchmarks
- Structural engineers exploring low-carbon frames
- Contractors needing post-completion carbon verification
Asset owners
- Public sector clients with net zero commitments
- REITs and corporate occupiers managing portfolio carbon
- Investors screening assets on embodied carbon performance
What you get
- RIBA Stage 2 embodied carbon baseline report
- Comparison against UKGBC and LETI benchmarks
- Material substitution and reduction recommendations
- Stage 3 detailed assessment with product-specific data
- Post-completion as-built carbon assessment
Standards we work to
Related insights
15 October 2026
Refurb vs New Build Carbon Comparisons Are Mostly a Waste of Time
Planners increasingly ask for a carbon comparison of refurbishment against new build. As someone who runs these assessments, I think the exercise is close to pointless, and easy to game.
15 July 2025
Embodied Carbon Strategies. How to Reduce Carbon in Construction
Practical strategies for reducing embodied carbon in construction projects, from material selection to design optimisation.