Interoperability opportunities for managing as-built CO2-emissions in construction projects

The report explores how interoperability in data systems can support the management of as-built CO₂ emissions in construction projects. It emphasizes the growing importance of embodied emissions—those generated during the production and construction phases (EN 15978 modules A1–A5)—as operational emissions decline due to improved energy efficiency.

The construction supply chain is fragmented and complex, involving multiple product types (Engineer-to-Order, Make-to-Order, Assemble-to-Order, Make-to-Stock), each with distinct data availability and emissions profiles. The report reviews regulatory frameworks (e.g., EU’s CSRD, EPBD, CPR) and voluntary sustainability standards (e.g., GHG Protocol, Level(s)) that increasingly demand emissions transparency. It also details relevant standards for life cycle assessment (LCA) and environmental product declarations (EPDs), including ISO 14040, EN 15804, ISO 22057, and ILCD+EPD formats.

A key finding is that while standards and data sources exist, they are not yet fully interoperable or machine-readable, limiting their utility for automated emissions tracking. The European Construction Products Regulation (CPR) revision and Digital Product Passports (DPPs) offer promise but are years from full implementation.

The report concludes that no single data format currently supports comprehensive emissions tracking across all product types and lifecycle stages. However, combining future-ready standards like eFTI and Peppol with enhanced emissions data from EPDs, national databases and in the future the DPPs, could provide a viable interim solution. Further research is recommended to develop frameworks for linking diverse data sources and improving emissions visibility, especially for site operations.