Ahead of the Curve on Sustainability? Don’t Let Construction Emissions Hold Your ESG Strategy Back
Ahead of the Curve on Sustainability? Don’t Let Construction Emissions Hold Your ESG Strategy Back
If you’re an ESG manager at an organisation with Net Zero or Carbon Neutral ambitions, you’re already leading the way on sustainability. Your company has made public commitments, invested in climate action, and is determined to stay ahead of regulatory and market expectations. But as Scope 3 reporting becomes mandatory, there’s a critical area that could threaten your best-laid plans: construction emissions.
The New Challenge for ESG Leaders
Traditionally, construction-related carbon emissions were only tracked by property companies with access to detailed project data. For most other organisations, these emissions were rarely measured—or even considered. However, as Scope 3 requirements expand, every company that undertakes office fitouts, branch refurbishments, or facility expansions must now account for the carbon impact of these activities.
The problem? Construction projects are often among the highest sources of emissions in a business’s footprint. If you haven't been tracking Scope 3 emissions until now, the sudden appearance of construction activities in your emissions reporting can be a shock, raising questions about your data accuracy, comparability with peers, and the true cost of achieving Net Zero.
Staying Ahead Means Evolving Your Process
Being a sustainability leader means more than just setting ambitious targets—it’s about ensuring your reporting processes are robust, transparent, and built on trusted data. Relying on generic overseas benchmarks or piecemeal consultant solutions can leave you exposed to scrutiny and undermine your leadership position.
That’s why forward-thinking ESG teams are now turning to new tools designed specifically for the Australian market. The latest emissions calculators, powered by Slattery’s industry-leading carbon dataset, allow you to:
Instantly estimate construction emissions using only P&L or budget data—no complex inventory required
Benchmark your results against the most comprehensive Australian evidence base
Confidently compare scenarios and track progress toward Net Zero with trusted, locally relevant data
Why This Matters for Your ESG Mandate
As Tom Dean, Director of Carbon Planning at Slattery, explains:
“Not everyone has the expertise—or the desire—to go through a super detailed carbon inventory process. By creating a reliable reference number based on our exceptional database, we can help the industry move forward with confidence, making credible emissions reporting accessible on all projects.”
With this approach, ESG managers can:
Ensure their Net Zero or Carbon Neutral claims are backed by best-practice data
Avoid costly surprises when offsetting construction emissions
Stay ahead of evolving regulatory and stakeholder expectations
Lead the market with transparent, comparable, and credible reporting
Don’t Let Construction Be Your Blind Spot
Your organisation is already committed to being a sustainability leader. Make sure your processes keep pace. By properly accounting for construction emissions—using the right tools and the most reliable Australian data—you can continue to set the standard for ESG excellence and future-proof your climate strategy.
Stay ahead of the curve. Make construction emissions a strength, not a surprise.
