Construction report findings reveal manufacturers are failing to meet demand from specifiers for better data around environmental performance and embodied carbon, hindering project-level progress on net zero.
More than 9 out of 10 specifiers (92%) say manufacturers need to share more sustainability information for their products, with performance and carbon metrics missing from the top five data types provided.
In particular, the new Sustainable Futures UK Report 2024 from NBS (powered by Hubexo) exposes ongoing gaps in early-stage design decisions and environmental data intended to inform more sustainable outcomes.
These shortfalls persist, despite evidence of rising market expectations and strong appetite for quality data.
Opportunities lost at design stage
While awareness of sustainable construction practices continues to grow, the report underscores a pressing need for more consistent, transparent, and high-quality sustainability data from manufacturers.
Based on responses from industry professionals, the findings reveal that fewer than 50% of all projects currently achieve stringent sustainability benchmarks. Main obstacles include: inconsistent supply chain data; lack of transparency around embodied carbon; and limited access to reliable certification schemes.
Early-stage design gives the greatest opportunity for positive environmental impact, but 92% of specifiers say a lack of detailed, reliable sustainability performance data from manufacturers can hinder the process.
Roughly half of all respondents look to choose sustainable alternatives, with 46% of specifiers and 52% of architects only specifying or selecting manufacturers with above-average sustainability credentials.
This preference is especially strong when supported by Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), essential third-party certifications that evaluate a product’s full lifecycle impact rather than isolated metrics.
Stats show specifier appetite is real
Unfortunately, some manufacturers are still only prioritising basic origin information, despite accessibility of these mainstream protocols, and it is hindering specifiers when building accurate specifications.
This disconnect highlights an urgent need for alignment as the sector, which still accounts for 39% of global CO2 emissions, accelerates its efforts to meet net-zero targets.
The stats are clear, says Lee Jones, Head of Sustainability at NBS (Powered by Hubexo):
“The results of the sustainable futures report reflect something we’re seeing more and more in practice; a real appetite among specifiers for meaningful, actionable sustainability data.
“If environmental data is vague or incomplete that doesn’t support decision-making at pace. If we want sustainable choices to become the default, we have to make them easier to identify and compare. That means standardising how data is shared, improving transparency, and focusing on the metrics that will matter most in the coming years.”
Environmental expectations on the rise
Headquartered in the heart of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, NBS (powered by Hubexo) is a leading integrated global platform for all built environment parties involved in design, supply, and construction. Its UK roots lie in the National Building Specification, helping construction build better and with lower risk for over 50 years.
With NBS now part of Hubexo, its future is focused on cloud-based technologies and connected data.
According to NBS (powered by Hubexo), environmental expectations are rising for the construction industry, driven by policy frameworks such as The Future Homes Standard and The London Plan.
The challenge is clear: match ambition with transparency, and turn sustainability promises into real-world impact. Integrated platforms like NBS Chorus and NBS Source are designed to support this shift.
Embedding sustainability data directly into the specification workflow makes it easier for specifiers to choose low-impact products without compromising on performance or practicality. This data operates alongside certifications including EPDs, carbon metrics and compliance information.
Further Reading:
- View/Download the new Sustainable Futures UK Report 2024; published by NBS (powered by Hubexo);
- More about the history of NBS; now part of the wider Hubexo ecosystem;
- Also on SustMeme, Carbon footprint guideline to make glass transparent;
- Also on SustMeme, First guarantee for traceability of green hydrogen;
- Also on SustMeme, Carbon-negative aggregate on road to net zero;
- Also on SustMeme, Ecolabel first for solar industry manufacturing;
- Also on SustMeme, Green building first for smart new Salford design
- Also on SustMeme, Will the supply chain be the scapegoat for Net Zero?
Check out the full archive of stories on the SustMeme Built Environment Channel, now available to Sponsor.
