Heathrow adopts One Click LCA to track embodied carbon across construction projects

Heathrow has mandated the use of the One Click LCA platform to calculate life-cycle carbon emissions on all new construction and refurbishment projects as part of its plan to reach net zero by 2050.

Under the airport’s new Carbon Management Standard, developed in line with PAS 2080, design and carbon consultancy partners must carry out life-cycle assessments to establish baselines for embodied carbon reduction. The standard applies to both new-build and renovation schemes, including major buildings and infrastructure across the 4.5sqm estate.

Alistair Awcock, infrastructure director at Heathrow, said: “The aviation sector has a critical role to play in supporting the UK’s 2050 net-zero targets. At Heathrow, we manage over 4.5sqm of infrastructure – how we design and build has a significant influence on our carbon footprint. Partnering with One Click LCA will help us better measure and understand the embodied carbon in our construction projects, enabling more informed decisions as we work toward our long-term sustainability goals.”

According to Heathrow, carbon reduction efforts have the most impact at the design stage, when material choices can significantly influence overall embodied carbon. Data from preferred materials will be used as reference points for future projects to measure the potential reduction offered by alternative options.

One Click LCA’s database contains more than 300,000 data points and offers automated life-cycle analyses for entire projects, from materials production to decommissioning.

The move follows wider decarbonisation measures at Heathrow, which include procurement of low-carbon materials and plans to phase out the most carbon-intensive steel, concrete and asphalt products.