Understanding Embodied Carbon: Building’s Hidden Climate Impact

Discover why embodied carbon is a critical factor in building sustainability and how it shapes our climate future.

By Sneha Tete, Integrated MA, Certified Relationship Coach

Created on Sep 26, 2025

Discover why embodied carbon is a critical factor in building sustainability and how it shapes our climate future.

What Is Embodied Carbon?

Embodied carbon refers to the total greenhouse gas emissions generated throughout the entire lifecycle of building materials and construction processes. Unlike emissions from building operations, these emissions are ‘locked in’ as soon as a structure is completed and cannot be reduced after construction.

Embodied carbon sources include:

Extraction and processing of raw materials (such as mining and harvesting)
Manufacturing and fabrication of building products
Transportation of materials to building sites
Construction, assembly, and installation activities
Ongoing maintenance and eventual demolition or deconstruction
Waste transport, recycling, and landfill processes

While operational energy reduction has been a focus of the green building movement, embodied carbon is becoming a major climate priority. Every building constructed today commits a fixed upfront emissions cost—one which cannot be offset through future retrofits or renewable energy sources.

Embodied Carbon Versus Operational Carbon

Aspect	Embodied Carbon	Operational Carbon
Definition	Emissions from materials and construction	Emissions from energy use during building operation
Timing	Locked in at construction	Occurs continuously after occupancy
Reduction Opportunities	Must be addressed at design, procurement, and build phases	Can be reduced through upgrades and renewable energy
Share of Total Emissions	Up to 50% or more as operational emissions decrease	Historically dominant; now declining in efficient buildings

Advances in energy-efficient design and grid decarbonization have driven down operational emissions, making embodied carbon an ever-larger share of a building’s total carbon footprint. In some regions, embodied carbon can account for half or more of new construction emissions.

Why Embodied Carbon Matters

The built environment contributes nearly 40% of global carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions.
Cement—used primarily in concrete—accounts for roughly 7% of global CO₂ emissions alone.
Building activity is expected to double by 2060, which means today’s material choices will have lasting effects on global emissions.
Unlike operational emissions, embodied carbon cannot be offset or retrofitted away later; it’s an immediate and irreversible climate cost.

As operational carbon is lowered through efficiency and renewables, embodied carbon becomes the primary source of emissions from new buildings. Failures to address it risk undermining decades of progress in building sustainability.

Global architecture, engineering, and policy organizations—including the World Green Building Council, Architecture 2030, and the Structural Engineers 2050 Challenge—have recognized this urgency, pushing for embodied carbon elimination in new buildings by 2050.

How Is Embodied Carbon Calculated?

Embodied carbon is quantified using a metric called Global Warming Potential (GWP), reported in CO₂ equivalent units (CO₂e). The lifecycle of a building product is analyzed using:

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): A comprehensive evaluation of environmental impacts across all stages, including production, transport, construction, and end-of-life management.
Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs): Third-party verified documents that disclose environmental data—like a “nutrition label” for building materials, reporting impacts such as global warming potential, acidification, ozone depletion, and more.

These tools allow architects, builders, and policymakers to compare products and make informed choices for lower-carbon construction.

What Materials Contribute Most to Embodied Carbon?

Not all building materials have equal climate impacts. The largest contributors include:

Cement and Concrete: The biggest single source, as cement manufacturing is carbon-intensive.
Steel: Another highly carbon-emitting material, especially from primary (virgin) production.
Aluminum and Glass: Both require significant energy and release substantial emissions during manufacturing.
Insulation Products: Some insulation types have high embodied carbon due to petrochemical ingredients and manufacturing emissions.

Other products—such as plastics, masonry, engineered timber, and finishes—also contribute, but often with lower emissions profiles, especially if sourced or produced sustainably.

Major Stages of Embodied Carbon Emissions

Raw Material Extraction: Mining metals, harvesting timber, or quarrying stone—energy use and land change both create emissions.
Material Manufacturing: Transformation of raw resources into finished products, a stage often dominated by fossil fuel energy.
Transportation: Moving materials—from origin to processor, then to site—adds emissions through vehicles and shipping.
Construction and Installation: Fuel for site machinery, on-site manufacturing, and assembly all contribute.
Maintenance and Renovation: Replacement and upkeep of materials and systems over a building’s life span.
End-of-Life: Demolition, deconstruction, transport of waste, recycling, or landfill processes can generate further emissions or, in some cases, allow for material reuse or sequestration.

Strategies to Reduce Embodied Carbon

Prioritize Material Efficiency: Design buildings to require less material overall, reduce over-specification, and eliminate unnecessary structure or finishes.
Use Low-Carbon Materials: Choose products with third-party verified low embodied carbon, such as recycled steel, supplementary cementitious materials (like fly ash or slag), or natural materials with carbon sequestration benefits (bamboo, wood, straw).
Favor Reuse and Salvaged Materials: Reusing existing structures or salvaged components extends material life and drastically cuts new emissions.
Optimize Building Design: Minimize mass, use modular or prefabricated systems, and reinforce passive and adaptable design strategies.
Source Locally: Selecting materials from nearby reduces transport emissions and supports regional economies.
Specify Low-Carbon Concrete: Seek mixes with reduced cement content, carbon mineralization techniques, or alternative binders.
Track and Disclose: Require EPDs for all major materials and conduct project Life Cycle Assessments to monitor progress.

The earlier embodied carbon is considered in the design, procurement, and construction process, the greater the potential reductions.

The Future of Embodied Carbon Regulation and Policy

Policymakers and industry leaders are increasingly developing standards and requirements to drive down embodied carbon:

Building Codes: Some jurisdictions are integrating embodied carbon limits or reporting into building codes.
Procurement Standards: Governments and large clients are beginning to specify maximum allowable embodied carbon for projects or materials in public procurement.
Disclosure Requirements: Mandating LCA and EPD reporting for major construction projects.
Global Climate Goals: International frameworks recognize the necessity of embodied carbon reduction to meet climate targets, such as the Paris Agreement.

These developments are accelerating market transformation and fostering innovation in materials and construction practices.

Embodied Carbon and Existing Buildings

While much attention is paid to new construction, existing buildings also hold vast quantities of embodied carbon, often in the form of historic masonry, steel, and timber. Demolishing and rebuilding can release ‘carbon debt’ as old materials are discarded and new ones imported.

Retrofit and adaptive reuse are therefore crucial climate solutions. Maximize use of what already exists—by updating systems, repurposing interiors, and preserving structural cores—rather than demolishing and starting anew. This approach maintains the investment of embodied emissions already made, while improving operational efficiency for the future.

Frequently Asked Questions about Embodied Carbon

Q: Why is embodied carbon important now if operational emissions have historically been higher?

A: As the energy grid gets greener and building efficiency improves, operational emissions shrink. Embodied carbon, emitted upfront and unchangeable once a building is completed, will soon be the dominant source of emissions for new construction.

Q: Which materials have the highest embodied carbon?

A: Cement, concrete, steel, and aluminum are among the main contributors to high embodied carbon due to their energy-intensive manufacturing processes.

Q: Are natural materials always lower in embodied carbon?

A: Natural materials like timber, bamboo, and straw can have low or even negative embodied carbon if sourced sustainably, but factors such as transport, processing, and end-of-life must be factored in. Unsustainable harvesting or long transport can raise their footprint.

Q: How can I know the embodied carbon of a product?

A: Look for Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and request product-specific Global Warming Potential (GWP) values from manufacturers. These help provide transparent, third-party verified data for comparison.

Q: What is upfront carbon?

A: Upfront carbon is the portion of embodied carbon released before a building or infrastructure is first put to use—primarily from material production, transport, and construction. As operational emissions fall, upfront carbon becomes a larger fraction of the total lifetime footprint.

Q: Can we ever achieve zero embodied carbon?

A: Achieving true zero is challenging due to essential industrial processes and global trade, but major reductions—possibly even net-negative through sequestration, reuse, and innovation—are increasingly feasible with coordinated action.

Key Takeaways

Embodied carbon is the hidden, immediate climate cost of buildings, largely determined before occupancy.
As operational efficiency improves, embodied emissions become the next frontier for climate action in construction.
Early design, material selection, and reuse are the best ways to reduce total emissions.
The industry is moving toward disclosure, standards, and innovative low-carbon solutions to address this urgent issue.

References

Author

Sneha TeteBeauty & Lifestyle Writer

Sneha is a relationships and lifestyle writer with a strong foundation in applied linguistics and certified training in relationship coaching. She brings over five years of writing experience to thebridalbox, crafting thoughtful, research-driven content that empowers readers to build healthier relationships, boost emotional well-being, and embrace holistic living.

Read full bio of Sneha Tete