Environmental innovation in the construction sector

Aidan Bell, co-founder of sustainable construction material company Envirobuild, provides an in-depth guide to environmental innovation in the construction sector. According to WRAP, sustainable resource advocates, the UK construction industry is responsible for 45% of our carbon emissions as well as 33% of all waste produced. This sector also continues to be the least productive in the UK economy, as well as having one of the lowest levels of digitalisation in the world. This is partly due to a lack of investment, as well as a fear of risks. However, this could be due to change, partly thanks to the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund.  This will develop digital, manufacturing and renewable energy technologies for the construction sector which, combined with improved business models, McKinsey believe could increase productivity by between 50 and 60%, as well as reducing waste.