What is "Embodied decarbonisation"

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Embodied decarbonisation refers to reducing the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the entire lifecycle of a building or infrastructure project, specifically focusing on the embodied carbon.

Embodied carbon is the total amount of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emitted during the various stages of a building's ( or products eg car life, ) excluding the emissions from its operation. This includes:

Material extraction and processing: Acquiring raw materials like steel, concrete, and timber, and transforming them into usable building components.
Transportation: Moving these materials to the construction site.
Construction: The activities on-site that assemble the building.
Maintenance and repair: Upkeep throughout the building's lifespan.
Demolition and disposal: Tearing down the building and managing the resulting waste.
By contrast, operational carbon refers to the emissions generated during the use of the building, such as heating, cooling, and lighting.

Embodied decarbonisation has become increasingly important because:

Growing awareness: As efforts to reduce operational carbon emissions progress, embodied carbon becomes a relatively larger portion of a building's overall footprint.
Locked-in impact: Unlike operational emissions, which can be addressed during operation, embodied emissions are essentially set during construction and cannot be easily reduced later.
Here are some strategies for embodied decarbonisation:

Using low-carbon materials: Specifying building components with a lower carbon footprint, such as recycled steel, sustainably harvested wood, or concrete with captured carbon technologies.
Design for efficiency: Minimizing the amount of material needed through smart design and space optimization.
Reusing and recycling: Incorporating salvaged materials or demolition debris from other projects.
By implementing embodied decarbonisation strategies, the construction industry can significantly contribute to achieving net-zero emission targets.

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The term "embodied decarbonisation" applies to manufactured goods like cars, critical materials, and even everyday objects just like it does for buildings. It refers to the total greenhouse gas emissions associated with the entire lifecycle of a product, from cradle (resource extraction) to grave (disposal or recycling).

Here's how embodied decarbonisation plays out in manufactured goods:

Raw material extraction and processing: Mining metals, harvesting resources like wood or rubber, and refining them all contribute to emissions.
Manufacturing processes: The energy used to turn raw materials into finished products like cars, electronics, or furniture creates emissions.
Transportation: Moving these materials and finished goods around the globe adds to the footprint.
Similar to buildings, reducing embodied emissions in manufactured goods involves strategies like:

Using low-carbon or recycled materials: For example, using recycled steel or aluminium in car manufacturing significantly reduces the footprint compared to virgin materials.
Energy-efficient manufacturing: Factories that use renewable energy sources or optimize their processes for lower energy consumption contribute to lower embodied carbon.
Lightweighting: Designing products with less material can reduce the emissions associated with both material extraction and transportation.
Design for disassembly and recyclability: Products that are easily taken apart and have components that can be recycled minimize the need for new, high-carbon materials.

By focusing on embodied decarbonisation, manufacturers can create products with a smaller environmental footprint, making them more sustainable throughout their lifecycle. This is becoming increasingly important for businesses as consumer demand for eco-friendly products grows and regulations around emissions tighten.

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https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/work/...-manufacturing

Department of Industry, Science and Resources website (https://www.industry.gov.au/)

Clean Energy Australia Sunshot Initiative on the Clean Energy Council website (https://www.cleanenergycouncil.org.au/)