Decarbonization · Buildings · Portfolios
Embodied carbon: measure to design and build with lower impact
A guide for developers, FIBRAs (Mexican REITs) and investors who need to quantify the emissions associated with materials and construction processes, compare alternatives and turn the results into design, procurement and ESG strategy decisions.
Embodied carbon analysis with a life-cycle approach · Updated September 2026
The starting point
What is embodied carbon?
Embodied carbon covers the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the materials and processes needed to build, maintain, renovate and eventually dismantle a building. It includes raw material extraction, manufacturing, transport, construction and the end-of-life stages within the study’s scope.
Operational carbon and embodied carbon respond to different decisions. The former comes mainly from energy used during operation. The latter originates in materials and construction processes. A life-cycle carbon strategy needs to consider both without mixing them.
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) provides the framework to quantify environmental impacts in a structured way. ISO 14040 defines its principles and phases, while ISO 14044 sets requirements and guidelines. For buildings, references such as EN 15978 help organize the analysis by life-cycle stage.
34%
of global CO₂ emissions came from the buildings and construction sector, according to the UNEP 2024/2025 report.
2026
GRESB began scoring embodied carbon elements that were previously reported without a score.
kgCO₂e/m²
is a common unit for comparing results when scope, period and rules are equivalent.
Scope
The stages an analysis can cover
Two results can only be compared when they use the same functional unit, study period, system boundaries and assumptions. That is why scope must be defined before modeling.
A · Product and construction
Raw materials, manufacturing, transport to site, construction processes, waste and installation activities.
B · Building use
Maintenance, repair, replacements, renovations and, where applicable, operational consumption.
C · End of life
Demolition or deconstruction, transport, waste processing and final disposal.
D · Benefits beyond the system
Reuse, recovery or recycling potential beyond the building’s main boundary.
A study can focus on upfront carbon in stages A1-A5 or cover the full life cycle. The choice depends on the goal: comparing structures, supporting a certification, setting a corporate baseline or preparing a portfolio strategy.
Decisions
What questions can it answer?
Where are the hotspots?
Identifies which systems, materials or stages account for most emissions and avoids spreading effort evenly.
Which alternative reduces most?
Compares structure, envelope, finish or construction system options with equivalent rules and an explicit baseline.
When is it best to intervene?
Distinguishes design decisions that are still open from late changes that involve cost, redesign or supply risk.
What should be specified?
Translates carbon targets into requirements for materials, Environmental Product Declarations and supplier documentation.
How does it scale to the portfolio?
Makes it possible to develop repeatable typologies, factors and criteria without assuming all assets have the same composition.
What can be reported?
Generates traceable information for ESG, GRESB, SBTi, certifications and financing processes that require climate evidence.
A calculated reduction still has to reach the site. Design, specifications, procurement and construction evidence must preserve the intent of the analysis.
Information
Data needed for a defensible result
Accuracy increases as the project progresses. In early stages, estimated quantities and reference assemblies can be used. During construction documents and construction, they must be replaced with actual quantities, products and evidence.
Goal and scope
Key information
Intended use of the study, stages included, period, functional unit and comparison rules.
Quality check
Do the decisions to be made match the scope?
Project
Key information
Areas, building type, reference service life, structural system and envelope solutions.
Quality check
Is the design version clearly identified?
Quantities
Key information
BIM models, bill of quantities, budget, quantity takeoffs or parametric estimates.
Quality check
Were duplicates and omitted items avoided?
Materials
Key information
Type, density, composition, origin, supplier and Environmental Product Declarations where available.
Quality check
Does the data reasonably represent the product and region?
Construction
Key information
Transport distances and modes, waste, site energy and relevant processes.
Quality check
Are assumptions documented and consistent?
Future scenarios
Key information
Maintenance, replacements, service life, deconstruction, processing and final disposal.
Quality check
Do the scenarios match the building’s use and context?
Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) improve the specificity of the analysis, but on their own they do not guarantee that a product is low-carbon. Equivalent products must be compared, with compatible units, category rules, scope and data quality.
Methodology
How we develop an embodied carbon analysis
01
Define goal, scope and baseline
We agree which decision the study must support, the modules included, the unit of comparison and the project version that will serve as the reference.
02
Review quantities and data quality
We integrate information from BIM models, bills of quantities and budgets. We record gaps, sources, assumptions and level of accuracy.
03
Quantify emissions
We match quantities with appropriate environmental factors and calculate results by system, material and life-cycle stage.
04
Identify hotspots
We focus the analysis on the components that explain most of the impact and separate magnitude from feasibility.
05
Compare reduction strategies
We evaluate design and material alternatives under equivalent rules, considering availability, technical performance, cost and decision timing.
06
Document the roadmap
We turn findings into targets, specification requirements, owners, required evidence and controls for design, procurement and construction.
We can use specialized platforms such as One Click LCA and complement the information with EPDs, recognized databases and project-specific data. The tool speeds up the calculation, but the quality of the result depends on scope, quantities, selected factors and technical interpretation.
When to intervene
The analysis changes as the project progresses
The greatest reduction opportunity usually appears while fundamental decisions can still be changed. The level of detail increases during development and construction.
Strategy and concept
Parametric estimates to define targets, reference systems and priorities before developing solutions.
Design
Comparisons based on BIM models or project quantities to select structures, envelopes and materials.
Construction
Tracking of specifications, substitutions, suppliers and evidence to preserve or update the result.
Renovation
Assessment of retention, replacement and reuse against demolition or new-build scenarios.
Portfolio
Baselines by building type and replicable guidelines to steer future developments without losing traceability by asset.
Reporting
Consolidation of indicators and evidence for corporate frameworks, investors, certifications or climate commitments.
Reference frameworks
Relationship with GRESB, LEED, EDGE and SBTi
GRESB
The development component considers embodied carbon measurement and disclosure. In 2026, previously developed elements began to count toward the score. The strategy must coordinate project information and portfolio reporting.
LEED
LEED includes credits for reducing life-cycle impacts through whole-building assessments. Requirements depend on the applicable version and rating system, so scope must be confirmed before modeling.
EDGE
EDGE compares energy, water and embodied carbon in materials against a local baseline. A detailed analysis can complement material decisions and certification documentation.
SBTi Buildings
The sector criteria include pathways for operational emissions and upfront embodied emissions in new construction. Organizations must review the applicable boundaries, roles and validation requirements.
The frameworks are not interchangeable. The same dataset can support several needs, but each standard defines its own boundaries, indicators and evidence.
Deliverables
What the organization receives
Executive report and results model
- Emissions by stage, system and material.
- Scope, sources, assumptions and limitations.
- Baseline and compared scenarios.
Hotspot and alternatives map
- Highest-impact components.
- Quantified reduction options.
- Feasibility and decision-timing analysis.
Design and procurement guidelines
- Criteria for low-carbon specifications.
- EPD requirements and supplier evidence.
- Controls for substitutions during construction.
Implementation roadmap
- Targets and owners.
- Actions by project stage.
- Criteria to scale to future developments.
Portfolio scale
From a one-off analysis to a repeatable strategy
A portfolio needs consistency without erasing the differences between assets. The strategy starts with a baseline, classifies building types and defines which data must be collected from each project.
Data governance
Formats, owners, official versions, estimation rules and criteria for accepting generic or specific data.
Design standards
Targets and requirements for recurring systems, with flexibility for location, scale, use and material availability.
Procurement
Questions and evidence to include in requests for quotation, bid comparisons and substitution approvals.
Information from the first project helps improve the next. With each cycle, the database is strengthened, uncertainties are reduced and measures that can be incorporated from schematic design are identified.
FAQ
The essentials before you start
Are LCA and carbon footprint the same?
Not exactly. A carbon footprint focuses on greenhouse gas emissions. An LCA can evaluate additional environmental categories. The study’s goal defines which indicators to include.
Can an analysis be done before construction documents exist?
Yes. In concept and schematic design, parametric models, building types and estimated quantities are used. The result has greater uncertainty but can influence high-impact decisions. It should then be updated with specific information.
Is BIM essential?
No. Quantities can come from BIM models, bills of quantities, budgets or measurements. BIM makes updates and traceability easier when the model contains adequate information and the analyzed version is controlled.
Does an EPD prove a material is sustainable?
Not on its own. An EPD declares impacts under specific rules. Comparison requires functionally equivalent products and documents compatible in scope, unit and methodology.
Can the result be used for LEED, EDGE or GRESB?
It can provide data and evidence, but it must be modeled according to each program’s requirements. A generic study does not guarantee compliance with a credit, certification or indicator.
Can a specific reduction be guaranteed?
Not before defining the baseline, scope and viable alternatives. The analysis quantifies scenarios. The actual reduction depends on design, specification, procurement and construction implementing the selected measures.
References
Sources and further reading
- ISO 14040:2006: Life Cycle Assessment principles and framework.
- ISO 14044:2006: LCA requirements and guidelines.
- UNEP and GlobalABC: Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction 2024/2025.
- World Green Building Council: Bringing Embodied Carbon Upfront.
- GRESB 2026: Embodied Carbon Measurement & Disclosure.
- USGBC: Whole-Building Life-Cycle Assessment.
- Science Based Targets initiative: Buildings Sector.
- EDGE: energy, water and embodied carbon in materials.
- One Click LCA: building LCA fundamentals.
Standards and programs change. Scope must be checked against the version applicable to the project and the purpose of the study.
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Next step
Which materials and decisions concentrate your project’s carbon?
An initial assessment defines scope, reviews available information and sets a baseline before comparing alternatives or setting reduction targets.