Rethinking Building Materials – Steel & Concrete

As buildings account for nearly 40% of global carbon emissions, the choice of construction materials plays a crucial role in decarbonization. This interactive roundtable explores how real estate developers can transform their procurement processes to increase the adoption of low-carbon steel and concrete in new buildings. Participants will examine shared challenges and opportunities in material procurement procedures based on successful implementations. The session will feature innovative approaches to circular steel and concrete sourcing as case studies in rethinking traditional procurement approaches. Through facilitated discussions, participants will develop practical frameworks for implementing low-carbon materials while managing cost implications and supplier engagement. This session is particularly relevant for procurement teams, sustainability professionals, and project managers looking to accelerate their low-carbon transition.

Learnings

• How to establish procurement protocols that work for both steel and concrete sourcing, focusing on early-stage goal-setting, planning and supplier engagement.
• Strategies for building cross-departmental consensus and managing cost implications of low-carbon materials.
• Best practices for setting clear and common technical specifications and verification procedures to enable informed decisions on material selection.
• Practical approaches to expand the supplier base for low-carbon materials in Hong Kong.

Post-Event Actions

• Identify specific development projects suitable for piloting reduced embodied carbon goals for steel and concrete
• Establish a timeline for implementing low-carbon material procurement in identified pilot projects
• Connect and expand existing supplier databases from industry platforms to improve information accessibility
• Form working groups to develop standardized technical specifications and verification procedures