Strategies and Techniques of Life Cycle–Embodied Carbon Reduction from the Building and Construction Sector: A Review

Abstract

Compared with well-studied techniques for reducing operational carbon in the building industry, studies on strategies for reducing embodied carbon, as well as their effectiveness, are limited. Therefore, this article aims to address this gap by conducting a systematic review, bibliometric analysis, and meta-analysis of the available evidence to answer the following research questions: What tested and validated mitigation strategies and techniques exist? What are their effectiveness and suitable application? Initially, 410 publications were found, and 21 articles were reviewed systematically in the fields of embodied carbon mitigation and reduction. In total, 19 mitigation strategies in four categories were identified from the existing literature, which were discussed through a meta-analysis on the available data. The four categories are design optimization, material optimization, construction optimization, and infrastructure optimization. The results revealed that no single mitigation strategy alone can tackle the problem; rather, an integrated and combined approach is necessary. The meta-analysis indicated that the most effective techniques are within the design optimization (an average 37% reduction) and material optimization categories (an average 37% reduction). The review also revealed the incomplete nature of the reduction assessment from a life cycle perspective. Most studies assess only the material and manufacturing stages, often completely overlooking embodied emissions occurring during the construction, use stage, and end-of-life stage; therefore, the accuracy and comprehensiveness of such study results are questionable.