by Rachelle Habchi, Low Carbon Product Lead

New Low Carbon Material Guide to Drive Decarbonization 

It may feel like a broken record, but this remains steadfastly true: it’s more important than ever to radically shift the way our building materials are created and to decarbonize the construction material manufacturing sector. Achieving our 2050 climate goals will require rapid adoption of available low carbon materials and a concerted effort to further develop and specify emerging materials, technologies, and strategies. 

As more companies work to produce fully decarbonized materials and scale them in the market, we recognize that we can drive meaningful reductions now with the currently available materials, design strategies, and decarbonization technologies.

In our latest report, Material Spotlights: Existing and Emerging Strategies to Decarbonize Construction Materials, we highlight new materials, strategies, and technologies that provide lower carbon alternatives to business-as-usual concrete, steel, asphalt, and insulation construction materials. Our analysis focuses on reduction potentials that either target the top 20% of contributors to global warming potential (GWP) or demonstrate at least a 30% reduction relative to a baseline material, building, or technology. The featured spotlights are limited to solutions with an assessed Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 7-9 and a Commercial Readiness Index (CRI) of 1-2. 

The goal of this report is to explore and document existing and emerging low-carbon materials, technologies, and strategies that can serve as viable alternatives to conventional construction products, with a focus on commercially available yet currently under-adopted solutions. Additionally, this report provides a comprehensive, easily-digestible resource for practitioners seeking to specify lower-carbon materials and implement lower-carbon strategies, helping them make more informed decisions in their daily practice. 

At CLF, we reflect on how to shift business-as-usual practices across the construction industry. Collectively, we can commit to making radical shifts in how we manufacture, specify, and design construction materials. We hope this resource provides confidence in proven strategies as we work to move the industry toward net zero by 2050. 

Material Spotlights: Existing and Emerging Strategies to Decarbonize Construction Materials

Approaching 2050 climate goals will require both accelerating adoption of available decarbonization technologies and strategies as well as a concerted effort to further develop and specify emerging material and technologies. Scaling action will require the building industry in North America to act quickly as new materials and technologies become available. 

This project aims to explore and document existing and emerging low carbon materials and technologies that provide viable alternatives to commonly-used construction materials. 

The project focuses on strategies and technologies that are applicable to the North American landscape, with a focus on the United States specifically and how that may influence other countries with heavy manufacturing industries.

Explore the report

New! Embodied Carbon Tool Database Comparison Report – Comparing data and modelling assumptions across leading software tools used in North America

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New case studies and market insights from RMI and Skanska show that reducing embodied carbon is economically feasible — and can even cost less than business-as-usual construction.

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Oregon Adopts New Building Codes to Reduce Energy Costs and Increase Energy Efficiency in Newly Constructed Homes

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New! The U.S. Climate Alliance released new resources highlighting how states are stepping up to cut emissions from the industrial manufacturing sector

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To Reduce Industrial Emissions, We First Need to Measure Them

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Design for Freedom

Thursday, March 26, 2026, 2pm ET | We are proud to partner with Grace Farms for the 2026 Design for Freedom Summit on March 26, 2026, in New Canaan, CT!

Join us and hundreds of thought leaders, changemakers, and innovators across industries, dedicated to creating a more ethical built environment. Leave inspired and equipped with the tools and vision needed to take immediate action towards more responsible supply chains.

Learn more and Register
International Sustainability & Energy Efficiency Virtual Summit 2026

April 20 - 21, 2026 | Join the professionals shaping the future of buildings! Last year, thousands of designers, energy assessors, engineers, consultants, researchers, and industry leaders joined from around the world, generating more than 200,000 CPD hours live, with many more completed through recordings afterwards.

This year, the Summit returns bigger, sharper, and even more global - featuring speakers from the United Kingdom, Europe, Scandinavia, North America, Asia, and Australia, delivering practical insight you can apply directly to real projects. 

If building performance, compliance, sustainability, materials, or energy efficiency affect your work - this is the one global event built for you.

Plus, hear from CLF’s Director of Collective Impact, Andrew Himes, for his session titled The Power of Collective Impact in an Industry of Competitors on Tuesday, April 21, at 4:35pm PST.

Learn more and Register
Webinar: Climate Smart Wood procurement guidance — procurement options

March 25, 2026 at 12:00 PM PT | Procuring climate smart wood can be challenging, and a one-size-fits all solution rarely fulfills project needs. 

Project teams can utilize multiple credible pathways to meet both project level procurement requirements and carbon goals. This presentation will introduce the three options for climate smart wood procurement developed by the Climate Smart Wood Group, with expert speakers on each: 1) Recycled, reclaimed and re-used wood resulting from salvage, reclamation and re-use; 2) Certified wood products from a credible forest certification system, and 3) Intentional Sourcing of Climate Smart Wood, involving identification of, and sourcing wood from, non-certified forestry operations whose management practices reflect climate-smart criteria, such as increased carbon storage, ecological integrity and social benefit.

Learn more and Register
Webinar: Book and Claim for Cement and Concrete with the Center for Green Market Activation and RMI

March 16, 2026 at  11:30 AM ET | Following an intensive process extending over the past year, GMA and RMI are pleased to announce the publication of “Book and Claim for Cement and Concrete.” This output is the result of a working group comprised of the program organizers, GMA and RMI, alongside approximately 30 organizations including asset owners, developers, construction companies, cement and concrete producers, non-governmental organizations, and others.

In this session, representatives from the Center for Green Market Activation and RMI will provide an overview of the recently published "Book and Claim for Cement and Concrete," a comprehensive framework outlining key functions and components for a book and claim chain of custody model in the cement and concrete sector. Join to learn about the development process, output, and how this framework will be put to work in a pilot joint procurement this spring.

Learn more and Register
How to Get Involved

Join a growing movement of researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and advocates working to decarbonize the building sector.

Ways to participate:

  • Join the CLF Network – Connect with 10,000+ professionals worldwide

  • Participate in regional CLF hubs

  • Share or submit resources and case studies

  • Attend CLF-hosted events and webinars

  • Advocate for embodied carbon policies in your state

Your voice strengthens the community and accelerates progress.

Visit CLF Website

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Quienes somos

  • The Carbon Leadership Forum accelerates transformation of the building sector to radically reduce the embodied carbon in building materials and construction.
  • We pioneer research, create resources, foster cross-sector collaboration, and incubate member-led initiatives to bring embodied carbon emissions of buildings down to zero.
  • We are architects, engineers, contractors, material suppliers, building owners, and policymakers who care about the future and take bold steps to eliminate embodied carbon from buildings and infrastructure.

www.carbonleadershipforum.org

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