Low carbon materials incorporated

Baseline strategy · No score

Compare alternatives considering extraction, manufacture, transport, maintenance, substitution and end of life.

Subject: Materials and circularityContext: Construction · Industry · PurchasesCost: mediumEffort: highLevel: recommendedStage: designMaturity: established
Principle of Materiales de bajo carbono incorporado
Operating principle

How it works

Compare alternatives considering extraction, manufacture, transport, maintenance, substitution and end of life.

It considers materials and components throughout extraction, manufacture, transport, use, maintenance and recovery to conserve value and reduce impacts.

When does it make sense?

  • Before you specify or purchase materials and products
  • Where functionally comparable alternatives exist
  • With life cycle data and a realistic maintenance and end-of-use plan

How to apply it

  1. 1

    Defining what need resolves "low carbon incorporated materials" and establishing a starting situation.

  2. 2

    Compare alternatives and adapt design to climate, use, regulation, affected people and available resources.

  3. 3

    Apply with clear responsibilities, check the actual result and correct unwanted effects.

Potential benefits

Lower carbon life cycle

Less extraction and toxicity

More retained value

Limitations and precautions

  • The result depends on context, design, execution and how it is used and maintained.
  • An isolated label does not replace the comparison of the entire system.
  • Durability, security, quantity used and end-of-life scenario can change the result.

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