Achieving Decarbonisation by Reducing Embodied Carbon through Procurement: Final Industry Report, Project 2.96

This project explored the critical role that procurement plays in reducing embodied carbon in the Australian built environment. By setting and continuously improving carbon emissions baseline and targets, incorporating robust procurement criteria and carbon reduction clauses into procurement practices and contracts and enhancing collaboration among stakeholders, significant opportunities arise to drive down carbon emissions for building and infrastructure projects. The evidence presented through industry case studies, including the Bunbury Outer Ring Road and East Perth Common Ground projects, demonstrates the potential for and the challenges of achieving meaningful carbon reductions through procurement. Transforming procurement practices to support sustainable outcomes represents a critical path to reducing embodied carbon in construction. The outcomes of this SBEnrc project will facilitate the uptake of low-carbon materials and innovations, unlock the potential of reducing embodied carbon and contribute to achieving Australia’s plan to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.