Building biodiversity in: Why construction must confront the hidden impacts in its supply chains

By Brogan MacDonald and Robert Nussey 2026-06-10T06:00:00

By taking supply‑chain biodiversity seriously and adopting robust tools and frameworks, the industry can shift from reactive compliance to proactive stewardship Brogan MacDonald and Robert Nussey write

Construction is entering a decisive decade. Carbon has become a core design constraint, materials efficiency is now mainstream and biodiversity net gain (BNG) is reshaping development in England. Yet, while the industry increasingly understands ecological impacts within the red‑line boundary, it is still overlooking where most biodiversity damage actually occurs long before materials reach site.

Ramboll’s recent white paper, Measuring Biodiversity Impacts in Construction Supply Chains, shows that most nature‑related pressures tied to construction occur far upstream at quarries, mines, forests, processing facilities and along global transport routes. If the sector focuses only on onsite habitats while ignoring these hidden supply‑chain impacts, it cannot credibly claim progress toward a nature‑positive transition.

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