EMBODIED CARBON

We have established a target to ensure 100% of our appointed suppliers are certified by recognised EHS standards by 2030. In 2022, 100% of our main contractors and key consultants for property development had recognised EHS certifications. In our asset management division, 100%* of suppliers^ appointed were certified by recognised EHS standards.

Embodied Carbon Emissions from Construction Materials

As part of our renewed SBTi-validated GHG reduction targets, CDL has committed to reduce the embodied carbon1 of our building materials by 41%, compared to their conventional equivalents, by 2030. Furthermore, we anticipate carbon-intensive construction materials, such as steel and cement, to become increasingly costly and have begun planning for usage of more sustainable alternatives in the future. We also monitor and report the embodied carbon performance of our projects against our SBTi-validated targets. This addresses CDL’s scope 3 emissions and wider supply chain management strategy.

An interim 2022 target of a 7% reduction in embodied carbon of building materials was set for all new projects awarded since 2018. We track the performance of these projects against the current interim target,2 and raise the next interim target where necessary to map our phased progress towards the 2030 SBTi-validated target of 41% reduction. The Group obtained Temporary Occupation Permit (TOP) for Whistler Grand in 2022 and achieved 21.9% reduction in embodied carbon with use of sustainable materials. The next project obtaining TOP will be assessed in 2023.

Managing Impact of Top Building Materials

With cement manufacturing and steel production responsible for around 7%3 and 7% to 9%4 of global carbon emissions respectively, it is imperative to reduce reliance on these materials and apply a circular economy approach to materials used for our development projects. To close the waste loop, recycled construction materials, such as recycled steel and concrete are used wherever applicable. We also encourage the use of alternative low-carbon materials at our sites and are constantly exploring innovative building materials and methods to facilitate our transition to net zero.

Materials Initiatives Benefits
Concrete (Including granite, cement and fine aggregate)
  • Use SGBC or SEC-certified materials such as low-carbon and recycled concrete
  • Use recycled concrete aggregates and washed copper slag from approved sources to replace coarse and fine aggregates for concrete production
  • Use Prefabricated Prefinished Volumetric Construction (PPVC) where possible
  • Promote environmental conservation
  • Reduce consumption of raw materials
  • Lower carbon emissions
Steel
  • Use recycled steel in projects for reinforcement works where possible
Notes:
1 Embodied carbon refers to the carbon dioxide equivalent or GHG emissions associated with the non-operational phase of a building and has become an increasingly important area for the built environment sector to address. It includes emissions caused by extraction, manufacturing, transportation, assembly, maintenance, replacement, deconstruction, disposal and end-of-life aspects of the materials and systems that make up a building.
2 Based on the lifecycle of CDL’s project developments, embodied carbon data for building materials is only available upon TOP attainment.
3 Global Cement and Concrete Industry Announces Roadmap to Achieve Groundbreaking ‘Net Zero’ CO2 Emissions by 2050. Global Cement and Concrete Association, 12 October 2021.
4 Net Zero Steel: Sector Transition Strategy. Mission Possible Partnership, 19 October 2021.
* Of the new suppliers appointed in 2022 by AM and PD, 100% were certified by recognised health and safety standards (e.g. ISO 45001, OHSAS 18001, and minimum bizSAFE Level 3 certificates), and 15% were certified by recognised environmental standards (e.g. ISO 14001).
^ For asset management, this target applies to vendors engaged for proprietary equipment service and maintenance, facility management, security and cleaning service in the reporting year.

 

Since 2016, CDL has been tracking and reporting the top five building materials and embodied carbon intensities of the construction materials used in our property development activities to determine the wider carbon life cycle impact of our projects. The embodied carbon emission intensities for our projects have been derived using BCA’s Carbon Calculator, based on the type and quantity of construction materials used.

CDL’s Top Five Building Materials

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Year 2018# 2019 2020 2021 2022
Top Five Building Materials (Tonnes) Granite 67,396 Granite 77,854 77,885 71,214 42,480
Fine Aggregate (Sand) 52,867 Fine Aggregate (Sand) 58,846 58,921 53,046 30,546
Cement 23,738 Cement 20,674 21,410 18,289 18,706
Steel 11,306 Steel 12,823 12,548 13,028 11,948
Ceramic Tiles 1,452 Ceramic & Porcelain Tiles 2,227 2,160 2,086 1,838
Notes:
• Top building materials for 2022 pertains to seven project sites that were still under development, hence figures reported were based on the project design stage.
# Figures have been restated to more accurately capture the building materials utilised in the year, instead of the previously used method of reporting the top five building materials for the projects that achieved TOP in the respective years.

 

Notes:

• Embodied carbon intensity for 2022 pertains to seven project sites that were under development, hence figures reported were based on the project design stage. Whistler Grand achieved TOP in 2022, and the figure has been amended from 0.62 to 0.86 to reflect the actual embodied carbon intensity.