A typical UK kitchen extension uses 25 tonnes of CO₂ — more than double the annual emissions of an average Brit and equivalent to driving 50,000 miles in a Land Rover Defender. The culprit? 50 tonnes of concrete for foundations, driven by tree-root concerns. Globally, the 'big five' construction materials — concrete, steel, glass, aluminium, bricks — account for 10% of emissions, 30% of waste, and 50% of resource extraction.
Concrete alone is the second-most consumed substance after water. While we can’t stop building, we can build smarter: lighter foundations, retained walls, and feature columns can halve material use. Most homeowners and even professionals overlook these alternatives — not out of malice, but lack of awareness.
The planet doesn’t need less building, just less wasteful building.
Source: Financial Times Companies · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing