How Can We Achieve the Ambitious eCo2 Goals in Construction & Interior Design? – "The Path to a Lower Carbon Footprint in 2025"

The construction industry is facing one of its biggest challenges in history: reducing the eCo2 footprint of new buildings and interior designs. In 2024, the maximum limit was set to 12 kg eCo2 per square meter for construction, including interior design. But this is just the beginning. By 2025, this footprint must be reduced further to 6-8 kg eCo2 per square meter – an ambitious target that requires a fundamentally new approach to both design and construction.

Why is it so difficult to reduce the eCo2 footprint?

Achieving a significant reduction in eCo2 emissions from construction and interior design is a complex task, and several factors make it challenging:

1. The complexity of calculations
   Calculating the precise eCo2 footprint of a building requires detailed knowledge of all the materials used, from foundation to interior design, as well as the transport, production, and energy consumption involved. This is a comprehensive task that involves multiple stakeholders and can quickly become both time-consuming and expensive. Examples of how to calculate this can be found here:
• Danish Industry: How to calculate a building's climate impact
• Industry Supply: ECO2 footprint calculation
2. Diversity of buildings
   Buildings vary greatly in size, shape, and function. This means that a single standard or model for eCo2 reduction may not be applicable across all projects. Each building requires a tailored approach, making it difficult to find universal solutions.
3. Technological limitations
   Although there have been significant advances in sustainable building materials and methods, we are still far from solving all the technical challenges. For example, some low-eCo2 materials can be more expensive or harder to work with, which can hinder their widespread adoption.

Possible paths forward: How can we achieve the new goals?

While the challenges are significant, there are several ways we can work toward meeting these ambitious eCo2 targets. Here are some of the most promising solutions:

1. Pilot projects and testing solutions
   Developing and testing new solutions in pilot projects is one of the most effective ways to find out what works in practice. By conducting concrete tests, we can gather data and experiences that can help develop standards and best practices for eCo2 reduction in the construction industry.
2. Economic incentives & legal requirements
   Another important path forward is to create strong economic incentives for sustainable construction. Governments and municipalities can offer tax deductions, grants, or lower fees for buildings that meet the new eCo2 requirements. This will motivate both developers and material suppliers to prioritize sustainability. Alternatives could include penalties, fines, or mandates. Examples of ambitious reduction goals can be found here:
• Reduction Roadmap
• 4to1 Planet
3. Collaboration across sectors
   To achieve significant results, it is essential that all stakeholders in the construction and interior design industries – from architects and engineers to developers, material suppliers, and furniture brands – work closely together. Cross-sector collaboration can lead to the development of new materials and technologies that make it easier to achieve lower eCo2 footprints.
4. Digitalization and data-driven decisions
   Digital tools and platforms can play a central role in reducing eCo2 emissions. Software that can calculate and compare eCo2 footprints for different materials and building types will help stakeholders in the construction industry make more informed and sustainable decisions.
5. Education and awareness
   To ensure that the right decisions are made at all levels of the construction industry, it is important to educate and inform stakeholders about the significance of reducing eCo2 footprints. This applies not only to architects, engineers, and developers but also to politicians and lawmakers who set the frameworks, as well as customers who prioritize sustainable choices in the purchasing process. Therefore, three key stakeholders—customers, suppliers, and legislators—must work together to find the best solutions.

A concrete example of sustainability: The R.U.M. Chair

An inspiring example of how to think sustainably in interior design and furniture production is Wehlers' R.U.M. chair. This chair serves as a practical case study in how a piece of furniture can be produced with a low eCo2 footprint by using recycled materials and optimized production processes. Recycled materials from the sea, computers, Novo Nordisk, and Carlsberg give the R.U.M. chair the lowest footprint in the world for a new chair: Wehlers

How the R.U.M. Chair can contribute to eCo2 reduction goals:

• Inspiration for furniture manufacturers: The R.U.M. chair demonstrates how sustainable production methods and recycled materials can be used to create stylish and functional furniture with a low eCo2 footprint. The chair was designed by the architectural firm CF Møller: CF Møller Architects.
• Case study in education: The R.U.M. chair can be used as an example in education and presentations, showing concrete solutions for eCo2 reduction in design and production.
• Part of the larger solution: Combining furniture like the R.U.M. chair with other sustainable building materials and methods can help achieve the desired eCo2 target of 6-8 kg per square meter.

The way forward: Together, we can achieve the eCo2 goals

Reducing the eCo2 footprint of construction and interior design from 12 kg to 6-8 kg per square meter by 2025 is a challenge, but it is also a necessity in order to achieve our climate goals. By collaborating across sectors, investing in innovation and digitalization, and creating economic incentives, we can make it possible to reach these targets.

The R.U.M. chair from Wehlers is a concrete example that it is possible to create sustainable and stylish solutions, and it can serve as an inspiration for the rest of the construction industry. By taking small steps in the right direction, we can collectively reduce the eCo2 footprint of both construction and interior design—helping to ensure a more sustainable future.