Understanding Embodied Carbon in Construction

In the urgent fight against climate change, reducing carbon emissions across every stage of the building lifecycle has become non-negotiable. While operational emissions - those associated with heating, cooling, and lighting - are more familiar to stakeholders, the significance of embodied carbon is gaining momentum. And rightly so.

What is embodied carbon?

Embodied carbon refers to the greenhouse gas emissions arising from the extraction, manufacture, transport, installation, maintenance, and end-of-life disposal of building materials. This means that before a building even opens its doors, it may have already generated a substantial carbon footprint.

According to the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), embodied emissions can account for up to 35% of a typical office building's total carbon emissions across a 60-year lifespan. In residential blocks, this figure rises to 51%. These statistics highlight the urgent need to assess not only how buildings operate, but also how they are made.

Why it Matters Now More than Ever

As the UK and Ireland Construction Industry pushes toward net-zero, attention is turning to whole-life carbon assessments. Building designers, specifiers, and contractors are being encouraged - if not required - to account for operational and embodied emissions at the design stage.

However, embodied carbon isn't always easy to quantify. Assessments require complex datasets that include emissions from global supply chains. Despite this, the industry is moving in the right direction. Manufacturers are increasingly publishing Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), allowing project teams to make informed, low-carbon choices.

Smarter Choices, Lower Carbon

Material selection is one of the most effective levers in reducing embodied carbon. Aluminium, for instance, is widely used in windows, curtain walling, and facades due to its durability, strength, and recyclability. Yet primary aluminium - produced directly from bauxite ore - is energy-intensive.

That's where recycled aluminium makes a significant difference. Recycling aluminium scrap into new products uses just 5% of the energy required for primary aluminium production. This doesn't just lower carbon impact, but also reduces resource depletion.

The TECHNAL Approach - Closing the Loop

At TECHNAL, sustainability is embedded in the design and manufacture of our aluminium windows, doors, and facades. All of our products are made with Hydro CIRCAL® 75R as standard - a premium grade aluminium made with at least 75% recycled post-consumer scrap, such as material from old window frames and facades.

Hydro CIRCAL® 75R has a carbon footprint of just 1.9 kg of CO² per kg of aluminium. This represents an 85% reduction compared with the global average for primary aluminium production.

And for project-specific applications where even lower carbon is needed, Hydro CIRCAL® 100R offers aluminium that's made from 100% post-consumer scrap. It's footprint? It's one of the lowest on the market at just 0.5kg CO²e per kg of aluminium.

Designed for Circularity

TECHNAL's products aren't just designed for cutting emissions today - they're engineered with the future in mind. Products are designed for easy disassembly, facilitating recycling at the end of their life. Most systems are made with 75% recycled and 95% recyclable materials, contributing to circular economy principles and long-term resource efficiency.

We back these claims with third-party certifications, including Cradle to Cradle®. Aluminium Stewardship Initiatives (ASI), and dynamic EPD's generated via our TechDesign software.

The Road Ahead for Construction Professionals

Reducing embodied carbon requires collaboration across the supply chain. From developers and architects to fabricators and product manufacturers, every decision - from curtain walling to framing systems - shapes the carbon footprint of the final structure.

By prioritising low-carbon materials like Hydro CIRCAL® and demanding verified carbon data, construction professionals can make a measurable impact.

The built environment accounts for 39% of global energy-related carbon emissions. Tackling embodied carbon is not just an environmental imperative - it's a business opportunity. It positions companies at the forefront of innovation and compliance in a market that's only moving one way: toward zero.