Autism in construction: achieving – yet hiding – in plain sight
2 April 2026
Why tracking upfront embodied carbon must begin at project inception
7 April 2026
The tracking of upfront embodied carbon must begin at project inception, when design decisions determine environmental footprint, states Dr Lee Jones of Hubexo NBS.
Three-in-five construction professionals now track embodied carbon using digital technologies, up from two-in-five just two years ago. This rapid shift signals an industry recognising that upfront embodied carbon often constitutes the largest environmental impact of a building. For energy-efficient structures, it can represent as much as three-quarters of the total lifecycle impact.
Upfront embodied carbon represents all emissions locked into building materials from extraction, manufacture, storage, transport and installation. Unlike operational carbon, which can be reduced through improved building performance, upfront embodied carbon is fixed the moment construction completes. Once those materials are in place, the environmental impact is permanent.
The NBS Digital Construction Report 2025 confirms that the shift in tracking embodied carbon is industry-wide, spanning different project types and scales. Furthermore, digital technologies are also transforming how we assess other environmental metrics. The report shows that almost two-thirds of professionals now use digital tools for energy and water demand assessment, nearly double the figure from just two years ago. Meanwhile, more than half the industry has adopted digital tools for lifecycle analysis, up from a third in 2023.
Tracking hidden carbon
This welcome shift enables faster, more consistent and more accurate measurement of sustainability metrics. But the real value lies in timing: it’s early design decisions that determine the majority of a building’s environmental footprint. Tracking upfront embodied carbon from project inception delivers the greatest impact, enabling project teams to avoid expensive late-stage redesigns when carbon-intensive specifications need changing.
The regulatory landscape is accelerating this change. From 2028, construction-focused upfront, and potentially whole-life, carbon assessments are noted as implementers for the government to achieve its fifth carbon budget, making carbon reporting crucial for meeting the UK’s net-zero targets. The government’s Carbon Budget and Growth Delivery Plan makes this explicit. Comprehensive carbon reporting across the project lifecycle is therefore expected to become the norm. Lessons learned from the EU’s approach, where carbon reporting has already been mandated, would certainly indicate so.
Getting ahead of mandates
“Understanding carbon assessment methodologies, defining competency standards and normalising data for meaningful comparisons are becoming fundamental professional skills.”
Dr Lee Jones
Early adopters are already gaining a competitive advantage. As clients increasingly demand environmental transparency and accountability, the ability to track and report carbon data has moved from being a nice-to-have to business-critical. Those treating digital reporting of carbon data as a strategic asset are positioning themselves ahead of regulatory requirements.
However, accurate tracking depends on quality data inputs. Environmental Product Declarations provide comprehensive lifecycle assessments, but they can be complex: varying scopes and units make meaningful comparisons difficult. Digital platforms help by processing vast amounts of technical information and structuring data for comparison, but human expertise remains essential.
Construction professionals must interpret this data within project contexts, balancing carbon reduction against other variables such as performance requirements, cost constraints and programme demands. Understanding carbon assessment methodologies, defining competency standards and normalising data for meaningful comparisons are becoming fundamental professional skills.
Standardisation is key to unlocking this strategic advantage. NBS, working with Circular Ecology, has launched a practical guide for embedding upfront carbon data directly into BIM objects, notably for early-stage design use. The guide addresses the fragmentation of data on upfront embodied carbon across the industry, providing a framework for recording emissions from Modules A1-A5 consistently across construction projects. Consistent, industry-wide approaches will enable professionals to make better-informed carbon choices and support the sector’s net-zero transition.
Building competitive advantage
Nearly 90% of construction professionals agree that digital technologies have a positive environmental impact. This confidence is justified. Digital measurement capabilities are helping the industry track what matters, compare options transparently and make informed decisions without compromising delivery.
But technology alone is not enough. The tracking of upfront embodied carbon must begin at project inception, when design decisions determine environmental footprint. Those embedding carbon assessment into early-stage workflows, supported by quality data and expert interpretation, are building the foundations for responsible construction. The competitive advantage belongs to those who get on the front foot.
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