Several major international firms are leading the drive to Net Zero in the construction sector, according to a report by GlobalData.

These companies have embedded sustainability into their value chains and have been most successful in reducing emissions. They have committed to measuring all emission scopes, especially Scope 3, and are ambitious towards achieving net zero.

One company identified in the report is UK-based Balfour Beatty, which has set a 2030 target for a 40 per cent reduction in tons of waste generated per £1m ($1.3m) of revenue. It aims to be net zero by 2040 and generate £3bn ($3.8bn) in social value by 2030.

The company is working with supply chain partners to report and reduce the embodied carbon in materials they supply. It is also developing new solutions and technologies to drive net zero outcomes for customers by collaborating across the value chain.

Another company, France’s Vinci Construction, aims to reduce its direct greenhouse gas emissions (Scopes 1 and 2) by 40 per cent by 2030, compared with its 2018 levels. It also aims to reduce indirect emissions by 20 per cent by 2030, compared with its 2019 levels. The company plans to promote construction techniques and materials that use fewer natural resources, improve waste sorting to ensure systematic waste recovery, limit the extraction of virgin raw materials in favour of recycled materials, and increase the number of permanent sites able to take in and process recycled materials.

Archwood Group is another leader in this space, having installed 2,600 solar panels at factories and offices in 2022 as part of its strategy to achieve Net Zero by 2050 at the latest. Skanska is also making strides in this area by implementing a Supplier Code of Conduct that includes environmental requirements. This initiative engaged with over 1,000 suppliers, resulting in a 20% reduction in emissions. These companies are demonstrating expansive emissions reduction strategies covering their entire value chains, paired with earlier deadline emissions reduction targets covering all scopes, which are key characteristics of net zero leaders in the construction sector.