Sustainable building practices, enhanced energy efficiency, and strategic material choices have led to measurable improvements over the past two decades, but the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry remains the leading source of global carbon emissions, accounting for 34% of the total in 2025.
To better understand the underlying causes and break down the barriers to adoption for embodied carbon tracking and other digitally enabled practices, RIB recently completed our third annual global sustainability survey, the results of which were published in our 2025 sustainable construction report.
In this blog post, we take a closer look at the survey results as we summarize the comprehensive white paper findings. We also review some of the tools and technologies that are already turning ideas into results. Useful links provide access to the complete sustainability white paper, along with additional resources that break down misconceptions and demonstrate the unlimited potential of software and technology.
The RIB construction sustainability report paints a complete picture of the current industry status, based on hundreds of responses to questions on carbon emissions, reduction strategies, and green project initiation, along with prevailing opinions on technology adoption, government regulations, and shifting client preferences.
The focus on embodied carbon tracking in our study was intentional. Embodied carbon, defined as the amount carbon dioxide (CO2) generated by building materials and processes throughout the project lifecycle (prior to occupancy), is expected to far exceed the operational carbon from heating, ventilation, and other building systems in the years ahead.
Embodied carbon is also a variable that can be measured, tracked, and controlled using technologies like building information modeling (BIM) and advanced takeoff and estimation software.
The 2025 edition of our annual construction sustainability report was based on approximately 440 individual survey responses from construction business stakeholders worldwide.
Three parallel surveys completed in October and November of 2025 encompassed over 40 countries and spanned 6 continents in total. Owners, architects, engineers, contractors, specialists, and other individual contributors spanning the AEC value chain were well represented.
Responses to our 26 survey questions included basic information on company size and focus areas, as well as opinions and insights on the key issues driving the future of sustainable construction.
A significant finding highlighted in our 2025 report was the relatively low number (31%) of organizations actively tracking embodied carbon for their projects. This percentage has remained virtually unchanged since we began the annual survey three years ago. To date, a growing recognition of the importance of carbon reduction has not led to consistent action. Our sustainable construction report sheds more light on the underlying causes, which include:
- Client demand: With 57% of respondents citing a “lack of client interest” among their top reasons for not tracking, the direction of the industry continues to be heavily influenced by immediate business concerns.
- Perceived costs: The cost of carbon accounting was also considered a roadblock to adoption. This finding reveals a need for more education on the benefits of solutions like RIB CostX that improve project efficiency while seamlessly integrating carbon tracking into core workflows.
- Inconsistent Measurement Standards: Over 40% of respondents who are not currently tracking listed this factor among their top concerns. This signified limited exposure to software tools in some regions, along with ongoing indecision over data sources, methodologies, and industry standards.
- Lack of clear requirements: Limited client demand has also led to unclear or non-binding contract requirements concerning embodied carbon tracking, which in turn limits accountability and incentives for construction businesses.
- Lack of meaningful change: Sadly, 18% of survey respondents who are not currently tracking believed the process could not lead to a meaningful change in greenhouse emissions. This finding also signals a need for more education and exposure to tangible results.
One of the best ways to accelerate the adoption of embodied carbon tracking is to review who is already tracking, then take a closer look at the factors behind their decisions. In general, larger organizations were more likely to track, but our survey results also uncovered some additional clues and industry trends.
For example, 70% of the companies currently tracking and measuring embodied carbon for all or most of their projects included “meeting the sustainability goals of their own company” (rather than those of their clients) as an important driver. Some of these companies are seeking to improve their brand image, while others are adapting their internal policies based on:
- Incentives in the form of tax breaks, grants, and other considerations
- Bidding and tendering requirements for large government infrastructure projects
- Government policies and regulations mandating embodied carbon tracking
These responses were consistent across geographies, with respondents in multiple countries and continents citing many of the same driving factors.
Ownership and accountability also proved to be key factors driving embodied carbon tracking practices. Most respondents agreed the industry should do more to cut carbon emissions, even though a much smaller percentage considered themselves personally responsible. While government incentives, client demand, and ongoing education are vitally important, strong leadership is also needed to capitalize on these positive developments.
The barriers to adoption and the common factors found among those already tracking embodied carbon combined to form a set of suggested short and long-term actions that are reviewed in detail in our 2025 sustainable construction report:
- Legislation: The legal weight of disclosure and reporting legislation like the new Carbon Emissions from Buildings (Net Zero) Bill in the UK has the potential to move the needle in a meaningful way.
- Client expectations: Increased demand from customers, occupants, and investors tracking Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) metrics will be a key driver of organic change in the future.
- Cost savings: As more businesses adopt sustainable construction software solutions like RIB 4.0 that help to reduce waste, optimize material usage, and monitor embodied carbon simultaneously, the cost savings associated with embodied carbon tracking will help to change opinions.
Additional change enablers discussed in our construction sustainability report include improved risk mitigation practices, talent attraction and retention to develop a more knowledgeable AEC industry workforce, and continued innovation to build on the success of BIM, cloud-based collaboration platforms, and next-level cost management software.
Any meaningful change must also be accompanied by improved awareness and education. This fact was highlighted by our construction sustainability survey results. For example, 18% of respondents believed the built environment contributes just 0-20% of all global carbon emissions, while 8% believed the number to be 60% or more, rather than the actual value of 30-40%.
The education process will become a pillar of organizational readiness in the years ahead, along with increased adoption of digital tracking tools, formal company policies, and staffing choices that improve the alignment between business goals, capabilities, and cultures.
Most survey respondents agreed that technology was among the keys to improved embodied carbon tracking, even if they disagreed on the tools and features they found most valuable. Over 45 digital tools were mentioned by survey participants, ranging from basic Excel spreadsheet to complex 6D BIM platforms.
Despite the variation in “tool of choice,” common themes were found in the software capabilities believed to be most valuable, including:
- Automated measurement and calculation processes linked to live databases
- Tool integration with project management, design, cost management, and procurement software
- Advanced reporting capabilities to simplify results and reach a wider audience
- Early-stage visibility to ensure embodied carbon is tracked from preconstruction onward
- Scenario comparisons to evaluate multiple design and material choices side by side
Thankfully, affordable solutions that integrate one, many, or all of these functions are already available. RIB Software is designed with sustainability in mind, allowing users to optimize design and material choices easily, compare baseline estimated carbon to as-built totals, and track embodied carbon throughout the building lifecycle.
As we reviewed our 2025 survey results and compared them to previous years, it became clear that the positive momentum is continuing to build, with carbon reduction strategies, green project starts, and prevailing opinions that more needs to be done signaling a widespread willingness to change. Thus far, this momentum has not led to an increase in embodied carbon tracking activities, or measurable reductions in upfront carbon. However, software and technology have the potential to break down the long-standing roadblocks.
RIB Software has established a vision for a sustainable construction industry that is fully supported through our products and core values. Our annual construction sustainability report allows us to learn from our valued community of customers, and continuously incorporate their feedback and ideas into our solutions. The complete RIB construction sustainability report, packed with additional statistics, insights, and conclusions, is now available to download.
Download the full report
