Reflections on Futurebuild 2025: Are we pushing hard enough for a Net Zero and just built environment in the UK?
Rhythima Shinde
Senior Sustainability Advisor | Built Environment | Renewables | PhD in Environmental Science
This blog is further reviewed and edited by Anna Cox Kate Crawford and brilliant members at KLH Sustainability
As someone still new to the UK built environment space and deeply invested in sustainability within the sector, Futurebuild 2025 was an incredible opportunity to engage with key discussions shaping the UK’s built environment and its journey towards Net Zero. Having spent years in academia leading research and teaching modules on topics like Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Smart Sustainable Cities, last year I spoke at the Futurebuild 2024 digital stage panel as an academic, which was an enriching experience. Now, stepping into 2025 as a Senior Sustainability Advisor at KLH Sustainability and representing industry, it has provided a distinctly fresh perspective.
My academic journey connects practical engineering with nuanced policy analysis. For instance, during my bachelors in India, I spent 3 years in a mechanical engineering department building EV cars; my double masters’ in Policy Analysis and Computer Science in the Netherlands focused heavily on renewable energy transition in rural India, and more recently, for my PhD in Environmental Engineering, I worked on data-driven policy assessments for affordable and sustainable Swiss housing. My background has reinforced my belief in developing multidisciplinary solutions for a just and resilient built environment. Futurebuild provided a platform to critically reflect on these multidisciplinary approaches.
I attended on Tuesday and the range of speakers and topics was incredible. The conference highlighted inspiring efforts across the industry - from decarbonising concrete to modular circular economy solutions and the evolution of Passivhaus standards, to efforts in encouraging better standards of built environment education. However, as I walked away from the sessions, one question lingered: Are we truly pushing the boundaries, or are we merely making incremental changes while the climate clock keeps ticking?
Key Takeaways and Areas for Critical Reflection
1. Decarbonising UK concrete and cement: progress but structural challenges remain
The talk by MPA The Concrete Centre highlighted strategies for reducing embodied carbon, such as embracing calcined clays, recycled concrete fines, and mechanochemical activation. The emphasis on performance-based specifications (EN206 & BSI Flex) rather than prescriptive composition was encouraging, showing a shift towards flexibility in low-carbon materials. However, we must ask - how are we moving away from the legacy of Portland Cement fast enough?
Encouraging steps:
Where we need to push more:
?2. Building a modular circular economy: rethinking construction waste
The discussion with MPBA (Modular & Portable Buildings Association) reinforced the potential of modern methods of construction (MMC) in promoting circularity. Companies like Wernick Group Limited , Polyroof , and Part Z showcased approaches to lifecycle assessment and recyclable materials.
Encouraging steps:
Where we need to push more:
3. Passivhaus and future homes: A proven model, yet underutilised
Hearing from Passivhaus Trust , and GREENBOX ASSOCIATES LTD , it’s clear that Passivhaus is no longer a niche concept – it is very much our baseline target. Yet only 1% of UK homes meet these standards. Levitt Bernstein ’s case study of Ashley Road, Haringey demonstrates 100% affordable, socially rented, certified Passivhaus homes, which was an encouraging example proving how ultra-low energy housing can be both scalable and equitable. ultra-low energy housing can be both scalable and equitable.
Encouraging steps:
Where we need to push more:
4. Housing in a climate emergency: Do UK policies go far enough?
Speakers from Good homes alliance, CIBSE, and TCPA addressed whether the Future Homes Standard (FHS) 2025 is ambitious enough. The consensus? It isn’t. While the FHS incorporates energy efficiency measures, whole-life carbon assessments (WLCA) are not yet mandated - a glaring omission.
Encouraging steps:
Where we need to push more:
5. Electrifying home heating: A necessary transition but not without barriers
The Thermal Storage UK discussion underscored the importance of shifting to electric heat pumps and thermal storage solutions. However, barriers persist, including but not limited to: high upfront costs, lack of skilled installers and slow grid upgrades.
Encouraging steps:
Where we need to push more:
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6. Transforming built environment education: Are we preparing future leaders?
Engaging with PlanBEE London and Ryder Architecture School, it was clear that we need a radical overhaul in built environment education. Traditional curricula lag behind emerging climate-responsive construction.
Encouraging steps:
Where we need to push more:
Net Zero is not enough - we need an equitable transition
While Futurebuild 2025 demonstrated incredible technical progress, we must ask: Who benefits from these advances? ?Are low-carbon solutions accessible to all, or will they remain confined to high-end developments?
Moreover, the Net Zero approach itself is limited for the UK, as it focuses primarily on carbon reduction rather than holistic resilience, biodiversity and social justice. The built environment must not only cut emissions but also address climate adaptation, affordability and equitable access to sustainable infrastructure.
What are we doing at KLH to support this?
As a senior advisor at KLH Sustainability, I would like to highlight at this point that we provide numerous services to support clients, developers and contractors to take advantage of the opportunities that sustainability presents to business competitiveness in both the short and longer term. We apply a holistic, pragmatic approach to add value across a programme’s lifecycle from strategy development through to implementation and legacy.
Final thoughts
To the built environment industry: I pose three key questions which we must address moving forward:
The path to Net Zero is more than carbon emissions - it is about fairness, accessibility and urgency. We must push for speakers, organisers and attendees alike to be bolder in our approach. I believe Futurebuild reinforced that we’re on the right track, but we are moving too slowly, and government incentives are not in the right places. The built environment is not just about reducing impact; it’s about creating a thriving, equitable and resilient future. ?
Whether these points resonate with you or you have a different viewpoint, I'd love to hear your thoughts! Let's discuss!
Here is a list of some resources I gathered at Futurebuild:
Concrete
Circular Economy
Passivhaus
Good homes
Education
Finance schemes