LOW CARBON SOLUTIONS
EPDs and pods: How data and prefabrication are driving decarbonisation in construction
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Building regulations have changed significantly in the past year, with sustainability and energy front-of-mind for the construction industry. Construction professionals are now considering product lifecycles more carefully, selecting items designed in line with circular economy principles and using prefabrication techniques to save time, money and waste. Tom Murray, UK sales and marketing director at Polypipe Building Services (PBS), shares how manufacturers can utilise Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and prefabrication to support sustainability efforts
mbitious targets from the UK Government aim to dramatically cut greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, with milestones of 50% reduction by 2032 and 75% by 2037. Last
year’s Building Regulations updates reflect this commitment, pushing construction to reduce its environmental impact. Since construction generates about 33% of total UK carbon emissions, the sector needs to actively address this challenge. Government leadership has been crucial, with its sustainable construction strategy ‘Construction 2025’ providing a clear roadmap for improving sustainability in construction. Professional bodies reinforce these efforts, including the Low Energy Transformation Initiative, which originally aimed to influence policy relating to London’s built environment, and has now been extended to all UK zero carbon policy and regulation. This transition is putting building services under intense scrutiny, driving manufacturers to provide detailed carbon information on products used in construction as specifiers seek more granular data to create a complete picture of a building. ‘Buildings’ were also specifically mentioned as part of the Climate Change Committee’s Seventh Carbon Budget as being one of the key sectors that requires significant emissions reductions to meet carbon budget targets.
Addressing sustainability demands with EPDs
EPDs are playing a crucial role in reducing carbon emissions as they detail the environmental impact of products. Created using Life Cycle Assessment methodology, EPDs record GHG emissions throughout a product’s lifecycle from raw material extraction through transportation, manufacturing, application to end-of-life use – including recycling. EPDs also offer a standardised baseline for product comparison, and provide transparent, objective information about products’ carbon footprints so construction professionals can make more informed comparisons and decisions around sustainability. The utilisation of EPDs today is particularly important given that developers are required to understand the full environmental impact of their projects. We are therefore seeing growing demand for EPDs, as they provide objective third-party verified data regarding the performance of products. EPDs – together with certifications such as
BES6001 – prove that materials in products have been responsibly sourced. As a result, EPDs are now proving essential to the construction industry’s journey towards net zero, and we anticipate demand to for EPDs to grow as they become the credible way to directly compare products and work towards building certifications such as BREEAM and LEED. Sustainability accreditations like these can also support tender bids, so there’s a strong incentive for construction professionals to scrutinise every aspect of a build’s climate impact. There is clear evidence that this drive towards whole lifecycle carbon assessments and data gathering is gathering momentum. Many large companies and organisations within the sector are increasingly backing carbon assessments, including ARUP, WSP, Atkins, Lendlease and RIBA to name a few.
Complementing data transparency with construction methodologies
Beyond material selection, construction methodologies themselves play a significant role in reducing carbon emissions and complementing EPDs. Prefabrication stands out as a particularly effective approach for improving sustainability while addressing industry-wide challenges. Pre-manufactured pods are frequently used to create bathrooms and kitchens while PUCs (prefabricated Utility Cupboards) are used to install water supply and drainage systems. Prefabrication offers multiple environmental benefits throughout the product lifecycle that complement data transparency. Prefabricated drainage systems reduce on- site waste substantially compared to traditional installation methods. Manufacturing in factory- controlled environments allows for precise material usage, optimised cutting processes, and efficient recycling of production scrap. This controlled environment also permits more accurate quality control, reducing the risk of leaks and subsequent repairs that add to a project’s carbon footprint and cost. The logistical advantages of prefabrication further contribute to carbon reduction. With fewer deliveries required to site and lightweight materials like HDPE that require less labour and heavy machinery for installation, the overall transport emissions associated with drainage solutions decrease significantly. Independent studies have shown that
prefabricated HDPE drainage systems can reduce site logistics requirements by up to 55%
16 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER MAY 2025
compared to traditional methods. Solutions that are lighter are easier to transport and install and therefore have a lower carbon footprint to process. As a result, these solutions are favoured by developers who want to stay competitive while achieving sustainability goals.
Driving sustainability in construction: Embracing EPDs and prefabrication
At PBS, we’ve introduced an ongoing EPD programme to cover all products, in addition to sustainability initiatives such as a site recycling programme. Our Advantage Off- site Prefabrication Service not only produces bespoke drainage and supply solutions, it also reduces transport emissions and on-site waste. We’ve also invested in a plant that enables us to incorporate more post-consumer material while reducing our own power consumption. Our approach to prefabricated drainage solutions aligns with the industry’s need for both carbon transparency and carbon reduction. By combining the data verification of EPDs with the efficiency of prefabrication, we’re addressing multiple aspects of the sustainability challenge. As more EPDs become available from manufacturers, healthy market competition will encourage increased sustainability within our sector, and support product development by providing benchmarks which can be used to improve the environmental credentials of manufactured products.
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