18 December 2024
Sophie Hazza, Nature Services Lead, edited by Theo Meslin, Embodied Carbon Lead
The built environment accounts for a staggering 30% of biodiversity loss and 50% of global raw materials extraction. While the UK’s new Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) regulation requires development sites to achieve specific greenery thresholds, it only scratches the surface. A building’s impact on habitats begins long before construction starts—it lies in the extraction and exploitation of land and natural resources needed to create construction materials. To address the elephant in the room, the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) recently hosted a conference on Embodied Ecological Impacts in London, where industry leaders convened to address the construction industry’s critical role in biodiversity decline. In this article, I share key takeaways from the conference and explore actionable strategies for construction, finance, and manufacturing sectors to mitigate their contribution to biodiversity loss while adopting nature-positive practices and incentives.
The Forums Driving Change
Organizations like the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC), Expedition Engineering, and initiatives such as the United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre’s (UNEP-WCMC) Proteus Partnership are instrumental in guiding businesses toward integrating biodiversity into their operations. Resources, such as the Integrated Biodiversity Assessment Tool (IBAT), Protected Planet, and Biodiversity A-Z provide essential data to inform sustainable decision-making. An insightful session featured key leaders from these forums who highlighted how both their research and tools are helping the industry make smarter decisions. They also emphasized their ongoing investments in R&D to stay at the forefront of change.
Embodied Ecological Impacts in Construction
The construction industry has been slow to integrate biodiversity considerations, particularly concerning materials such as steel, concrete, and monocultural timber. These materials have significant environmental footprints, and their escalating demand due to rates of urbanisation exacerbates biodiversity and climate impacts.
A regional approach to material sourcing is vital, as localized environmental factors—such as the effects of fertilizers, phosphorus, and black carbon—vary significantly. Assessing these impacts requires region-specific strategies to effectively mitigate biodiversity loss.
Another crucial consideration to reducing embodied ecological impacts, just as any other embodied impact related to construction materials, is the implementation of circularity principles. By avoiding the extraction and processing of virgin materials, whether by retaining as much as possible, reusing existing products and materials, or by reducing the quantity of materials needed through efficient design, these various negative impacts can be avoided altogether.
Applying the Mitigation Hierarchy: Tools, Processes, and Actions
Utilizing tools like IBAT and geospatial data enables companies to assess the ecological impacts of material extraction on specific ecosystems. This approach facilitates the application of mitigation hierarchies and the development of quantitative, location-specific biodiversity metrics. Applying the mitigation hierarchy is crucial when setting environmental goals and objectives, aligning directly with the guidance of the Task Force on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD).
The following steps should be considered when revising your mitigation strategy
- Define Measurable KPIs: Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) that embed aspects of circularity within a project, monitor species diversity and land-use changes on site and in surrounding areas.
- Conduct Life Cycle Assessments on your Assets: Partner with material assessment providers who have integrated biodiversity considerations into their Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs). Currently, based on Ramboll’s analysis of Biodiversity in LCAs, global providers are working on enhancing their current methodology to (mostly focused on carbon now), to include biodiversity indicators. For now, there continues to be large discrepancies in outcomes, so watch this space closely.
- Supply Chain Assessments: Conduct comprehensive reviews of supply chains to evaluate the environmental impacts of primary suppliers, promoting sustainable sourcing practices.
- Enhance your ESG Disclosures: Collaborate with material suppliers to improve Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) disclosures, ensuring that sourcing aligns with biodiversity-conscious criteria.
The Finance Sector’s Role in Advancing Nature Conscious Investments
Financial institutions are pivotal in promoting biodiversity preservation. At the conference, Annabelle Richards from Lloyds Banking Group provided some examples on what her team is doing to advance their nature positive agenda. Lloyds integrates nature-positive targets into their lending decisions, utilizing tools like the Exploring Natural Capital Opportunities, Risks and Exposure (ENCORE) for materiality assessments. Additionally, green loans (with favourable interest rates) help meet biodiversity objectives, incentivizing businesses to adopt nature-positive practices.
Actions investors can take
- Explore Financial Incentives: Develop financial products that reward companies with clear biodiversity goals.
- Highlight Leading Practices: Showcase case studies of financial institutions that have successfully integrated biodiversity considerations into their decision-making processes.
Cross-Sectoral Approaches to Biodiversity Preservation and Regeneration
Bio-Based vs. Traditional Materials
Transitioning to bio-based materials offers environmental benefits; however, over-reliance on monocultural solutions can also pose biodiversity risks. Understanding ecological tipping points is essential in preventing the further degradation of valuable biodiversity rich areas.
What materials manufacturing companies can do
- Develop Cross-Sector Strategies: Leverage best practices from sectors such as fashion, agriculture and forestry to inform biodiversity impact strategies.
- Implement Adaptive Strategies: Adopt flexible biodiversity strategies that address location-specific risks and opportunities, ensuring effective preservation efforts.
Achieving a nature-positive future requires actionable strategies, robust monitoring, and cross-industry collaboration. By leveraging innovative tools, prioritizing regional biodiversity considerations, staying up to date with industry changes, and developing biodiversity-first finance mechanisms, the construction industry can transition from being a key contributor to global biodiversity loss to becoming leaders in ecological preservation.
At Longevity Partners, our Nature team specializes in guiding businesses through these industry changes, offering expertise in nature-based solutions and ecology to develop and implement effective biodiversity strategies. To learn more about how we can assist your organization in navigating this evolving landscape, please reach out to our Nature Lead, Sophie Hazza sh@longevity.co.uk
Interested in mapping out the carbon impacts of your developments with Life-Cycle Assessments. or integrating circularity and carbon reduction into your projects? Our team has experience with the various approaches and methodologies used for assessing Embodied Carbon internationally, but also with the efficient implementation of LCAs at company level, to maximise the reduction of embodied impacts (ecological and carbon). To learn more, please reach out to our Embodied Carbon Lead, Theo Meslin tm@longevity.co.uk