Alliance Facades Embodied Carbon Study
Alliance Facade Services Ltd
Specialist design and build facade contractor with a particular focus on Curtain Wall/Windows and Rainscreen Cladding
Alliance Facades is dedicated to sustainability, to the commitments we set out in our ESG Report and the 5 UN SDGs we identified are most relevant to us.
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As part of the commitments set out in our Sustainable Value Proposition, our ESG steering group has developed a deeper understanding of embodied carbon, specifically our ability to advise our clients how decisions made in transportation and product selection can significantly impact the carbon footprint across the lifecycle of a project, particularly in transportation and product selection.
In the following illustrative example derived from one of our high-rise residential projects, our team highlights that within our scope, materials themselves are the primary contributors to carbon emissions, constituting 60% of the total embodied carbon. Moreover, their lifespan and replacement also play a significant role, accounting for the second-largest share at 32%.
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This prompts critical considerations regarding material selection, especially concerning their end-of-life cycle. For example; the choice between Timber and Aluminium building materials. The World Resources Institute underscores that while Timber initially sequesters carbon, it releases it upon decay or combustion. Consequently, Timber products, upon reaching the end of their lifespan, often cannot be repurposed or recycled effectively, limiting their sustainability primarily to serving as fuel. Conversely, Aluminium can be recycled and repurposed indefinitely, either back into industry or into the same fa?ade it originated from.
Our objective is to consistently enhance our understanding and proficiency in this field, enabling us to provide our clients with optimal support in calculating and overseeing embodied carbon, while also leveraging our expertise in designing and product selection that promote sustainability.
We express our appreciation to the steering group for their invaluable insights and to the CWCT for their guidance, which has greatly contributed to enhancing our capabilities in this critical area.