What is greenwashing (and how can you spot it)?

What are the different ways businesses attempt to remarket and camouflage their environmentally damaging products and operations? With concerns around the ongoing climate crisis growing and new legislation being set…

How the built environment can bridge the green skills gap

Here are 8 ways governments, organisations and individuals can work together to close the skills gap. Making net zero a reality by 2050 will require an enormous effort from businesses,…

Diagnosing the green skills gap: 5 factors fuelling the shortage

The green skills gap is holding back the built environment’s sustainability efforts. Here’s where it’s come from, and why we need to solve it. The built environment is about to…

What is the green skills gap (and why does it matter)?

The built environment is in dire need of sustainability talent. Here are 6 skills that can help close the growing green talent gap. The UK is in a race to…

What is biophilic architecture? 15 real-world examples in the built environment

When coupled with sustainable development, biophilic design can offer significant benefits for the built environment. As an industry currently responsible for 39% of global energy-related carbon emissions, the built environment…

Technology will define the future of sustainability

Technology is going to make or break any attempt to achieve a sustainable built environment. Here’s why. The built environment has a mountain to climb to address its impact on…

COP28: the good, the bad, and the ugly

In this guest article, UCEM’s Jessica Gordon-Calvert gives her personal reaction to the fallout from December’s international climate conference. By Jessica Gordon-Calvert, Sustainability Education & Engagement Officer From an outsider’s…

12 sustainable alternatives to traditional concrete

Concrete, the second most-consumed substance in the world behind water, is also one of the most damaging to the environment. Here are 12 sustainable alternatives. The sector-wide push to realise…

The intrinsic link between ESG and the built environment

Implementing ESG can help built environment businesses demonstrate progress on their sustainability ambitions and goals. Today, Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) dominates the conversation when it comes to business strategy.…

It’s not easy, being green – are green building certifications just greenwash?

Certifications like BREEAM and LEED have been lauded in sustainability circles, but just how much importance should be placed on them? If you’ve had any experience in the built environment,…

7 sustainability skills every built environment professional needs

With environmental, social, and governance (ESG) regulations tightening and penalties set to rise, businesses across the UK are in a race against time to decarbonise their operations by 2050. As…

The built environment needs sustainability leadership

If our sector is to successfully address its role in the climate crisis, we need leaders with sustainability expertise to drive and influence organisational change. The built environment’s impact on…