Carbon and Scope 3 Emissions Tracking: A Game Changer for Construction in 2024

It’s 2024, and if you’re involved in Infrastructure, Civil, Industrial, Data Centres, or BTR, you’ll need a process for Scope 3 emissions in the next 12 months. Today, we’re diving into how tracking these emissions can help you and your clients hit sustainability targets.

All the major players have set carbon reduction goals, and as an industry expert, it’s up to you to solve this challenge.

It might seem daunting, but we’re here to show you how you can meet your ESG goals while also cutting construction costs. Governments worldwide, including Australia, the US, China, and Europe, are pushing for these changes. Major companies like Costco, Walmart, Amazon, Intel, and Microsoft have also set strict targets. Whether it’s new Green Star requirements or infrastructure projects, everyone is moving toward sustainability.

You’ll hear terms like “materials passports,” “end-of-life,” and “product reuse.” The challenge is twofold: real barriers in construction supply chains and internal concerns about costs. You’ll need to overcome both.

So, why has tracking emissions in the construction industry and throughout project supply chains become so crucial recently? Let’s break it down.

Construction is one of the largest contributors to global carbon emissions, accounting for nearly 40% of total emissions. Of these, a significant portion comes from Scope 3 emissions, which include all indirect emissions that occur in the value chain. This includes emissions from the production of building materials, transportation, and waste generated during construction.

The construction industry is now under intense pressure to reduce its carbon footprint. With increasing regulations and growing awareness about climate change, tracking Scope 3 emissions has become a priority.

Here are some interesting facts that highlight the importance of this:

By understanding the intertwined nature of construction and Scope 3 emissions, companies can take proactive steps to reduce their environmental impact.

This is where Matrak comes in. We already help reduce supply-chain costs by providing transparency. By adding Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) at the source, we can report the total embodied carbon by weight. This allows you to use the Bill of Quantities (BOQ) to finalize emissions before choosing a tender.

Low-carbon suppliers should connect with architects and developers to agree on emissions targets. Matrak’s Takeoff system can use architects’ early designs and your EPDs to provide carbon estimates. We can also use industry benchmark EPDs to show the specific reduction you are providing as a supplier. Now you and the developer are on one system, tracing reduced carbon or carbon-neutral products through the supply chain.

As builders and subcontractors are selected and designs finalized, these updates are reflected in Matrak. This ensures you can match the “to-build” quantities with emissions targets. Now you’re ready to build! Subcontractors can use Matrak’s QR codes and “materials passport” to trace goods through suppliers, logistics, and installation. Both you and the developer share visibility every step of the way.

Finally, this data is available for end-of-life and reuse, like the work we’re doing with construction giant Gammon in Hong Kong for steel reuse. While this is just starting in Hong Kong, it’s only a matter of time before it spreads globally.

Sign up today for a free account at matrak.com and take the first step towards hitting your sustainability goals.