#4 - CURRENT TRENDS IN SUSTAINABILITY

The mission of the Carbon Leadership Forum is to “eliminate embodied carbon in buildings, materials, and infrastructure to create a just and thriving future”. There are two main categories of carbon. Embodied carbon is the greenhouse gases that are generated through processes like manufacturing, installation, maintenance, etc., for the construction of buildings and roads. Operational carbon refers to the emissions that are produced through the use of energy in buildings. It is important to measure the carbon emissions to determine the best solution for reducing them. One way to measure carbon emissions is through a Life Cycle Assessment(LCA). This is an “analysis methodology that estimates the environmental impacts of a building, product, or process over its full life cycle, from raw material extraction through end-of-life and disposal”. LCA models can also help determine a product's impact on the overall climate change. The top contributors to global climate change are the industry, agriculture/forestry, transport, and waste. Some of the solutions CLF recommends are to build less and reuse more. They also encourage designing lighter and smarter, as well as using low-carbon alternatives.

Architecture 2030’s goal is to provide key strategies that can be used to reduce embodied carbon in infrastructures and landscapes. They provide solutions of all scales that can be applied before the design and construction processes begin. Approximately 75% of the greenhouse gas emissions come from the urban built environment. Reducing these carbon emissions is crucial for achieving sustainable construction. Architecture 2030 has created a framework to try to achieve zero carbon emissions. In this framework, they address how much we should build and where. They also talk about how we should build, where they discuss using renewable resources and other nature-based solutions. 

The Health Building Network(HBN) is now known as Habitable. It is a nonprofit organization whose goal is to reduce the hazardous chemicals that are being used in the building process. Habitable has a database called Pharos that shows chemicals and polymers and describes their effect on human and environmental health. It is a great resource for manufacturers and scientists to ensure they are helping create sustainable products. Habitable believes that toxic chemical exposure is preventable, and they fight to make it possible for people to make safer and healthier chemical decisions. They also partner with ChemFORWARD provides thousands of chemical hazard assessments. These provide a rating and also give safe alternative options. Habitable is fighting to create a safer and more sustainable future through chemistry. 

One Step Further:

For my One Step Further this week, I looked into how Habitable affects the textile industry. I found an article on Habitable’s site that discusses the elimination of toxics in carpet. Carpet is 60% of the US flooring market. Only 5% of that is recycled. Most carpet is very complex and contains many toxic chemicals. Many carpet manufacturers are beginning to receive demands for healthier products with fewer hazardous chemicals. One solution is to design carpet that is easier to recycle without the use of toxic chemicals. Product certifications such as LEED also help increase awareness and demand for improvement. Habitable (HBN) examines carpet waste and carpet composition. They identified 44 toxic chemicals that were frequently used in carpet fiber, backing, adhesives, and pads. Manufacturers must start designing carpets for easy recycling. 

Resources:

Architecture 2030. (n.d.). Architecture 2030. Retrieved February 8, 2026, from https://architecture2030.org/

Carbon Leadership Forum. (n.d.). Home. Retrieved February 8, 2026, from http://carbonleadershipforum.org/

Healthy Building Network. (n.d.). Pharos adds hazard data for 26,000 previously uncharacterized chemicals. Retrieved February 8, 2026, from https://healthybuilding.net/blog/239-pharos-adds-hazarddata-for-26000-previously-uncharacterized-chemicals