The construction and infrastructure sectors are playing a pivotal role in shaping the transition to a more sustainable and resilient economy.
As major consumers of energy, materials and land, these sectors are responsible for a significant proportion of global carbon emissions and resource use, while the risk of infrastructure failure under climate stress poses growing economic and social challenges. At the same time, the sectors are uniquely positioned to drive meaningful progress in addressing environmental and climate challenges while delivering essential assets that support economic growth and social wellbeing.
Reducing carbon emissions is now a central priority across the construction and infrastructure sectors. This includes cutting embodied carbon in materials, improving construction processes, and delivering energy-efficient infrastructure and buildings that support national net-zero commitments. Achieving this requires innovation in design, the adoption of low-carbon materials, and stronger collaboration across the value chain.
Equally important is the development of resilient and ethical supply chains. Infrastructure and construction projects depend on complex global networks of suppliers, making transparency, responsible sourcing, and climate resilience critical considerations.
Organisations are increasingly working with suppliers to reduce environmental impacts while ensuring fair labour practices and long-term supply stability.
Resource efficiency is another key challenge. The sector must reduce waste, limit the extraction of virgin materials, and accelerate the adoption of circular economy principles. This includes designing assets for longevity and reuse, increasing the use of recycled and sustainable materials, and improving construction waste management.
· Construction & the built environment,
· Telecommunications & connectivity,
· Engineering,
· Waste management & recycling,
· Infrastructure consultants.
· Net-zero buildings, materials and circular economy requirements
· Acute skills shortages across construction, engineering and consultancy
· Cost, safety and compliance risks increase on complex projects
· Infrastructure performance in extreme weather and climate shocks
· Digital connectivity, utilities and the built environment interdependent
· Regulators and clients demand resilience-by-design, not retrofit
· Infrastructure judged on long-term performance, not delivery alone
· Clients and governments prioritise credible, professionally governance
· Leadership, succession and accountability become differentiators
A limiting factor to the successful delivery of these ambitions is professional capability, integration and leadership.
The Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Professionals (ISEP) harnesses the collective expertise and experience of our global membership to empower individuals and businesses with cutting-edge evidence and insights, enable them with world-class guidance and training, and ensure their excellence with unrivalled professional standards and assessment, across:
Balfour Beatty is a leading international infrastructure group with over 26,000 employees driving the delivery of powerful new solutions, shaping thinking, creating skylines and inspiring a new generation of talent to be the change-makers of tomorrow.
We finance, develop, build, maintain and operate the increasingly complex and critical infrastructure that supports national economies and deliver projects at the heart of local communities.
The latest evolution of our Sustainability Strategy incorporates an expanded range of focus areas, ensuring we are taking a holistic approach to sustainability and addressing interconnected challenges and opportunities. These focus areas encompass climate change, nature positive, resource efficiency, supply chain integrity, community engagement and employee diversity, equity & inclusion.
For more information, please visit: Sustainability - Balfour Beatty plc.
For almost 150 years, BAM have been shaping the UK & Ireland’s vital infrastructure and creating many of the country's most iconic buildings. Today we're part of the Royal BAM Group, one of the largest construction companies in Europe with a turnover of over €7 billion.
Our aim is to leave our world a better place than we found it – to build a more sustainable tomorrow. We do this by connecting, building and maintaining places where people and the planet prosper together. This is our lasting legacy.
We have partnered with ISEP as part of our transformation process to share learning and best practice with our piers; help to develop our in-house sustainability specialists and; deliver a programme of accredited sustainability training to upskill our people.
For more information, please visit: bam
Costain helps to improve people’s lives by creating connected, sustainable infrastructure that enables people and the planet thrive. We shape, create and deliver pioneering solutions that transform the performance of the infrastructure ecosystem across the UK’s energy, water, transportation and defence markets.
We are organised around our customers anticipating and solving their challenges and helping to improve performance. By bringing together our unique mix of construction, consulting and digital experts we engineer and deliver sustainable, efficient and practical solutions.
Our ambition is to become a net zero business by 2035, while enhancing biodiversity and natural capital, and we have plans in place to deliver this. We are committed to procure responsibly and to be an inclusive and accessible business for all, enabling us to be our best while focusing on the outcomes that we deliver for people and planet.
At Costain, we have a vibrant, challenging and growing business – an environment that provides tremendous opportunities for everybody. We're looking for curious, collaborative and courageous people who'll help transform the performance of the infrastructure ecosystem across the UK. For more information about our careers go to www.costain.com/careers
Today, we employ around 3,500 people and are one of the nation’s Top 100 Most Admired companies and have been named in the Times Top Employers for Women 2021.
For more information, please visit: Costain
Heidelberg Materials produces aggregates (crushed rock, sand and gravel), ready-mixed concrete, asphalt, cement and cement related materials.
We are part of the HeidelbergCement Group, which has leading global positions in aggregates, cement and concrete. Hanson UK is split into four business lines – aggregates, concrete, asphalt and contracting and cement – which together operate around 300 manufacturing sites and employ over 3,500 people.
For more information, please visit: Heidelberg Materials
Kier is a leading provider of infrastructure services, construction, and property developments across the UK. Our business consists of four divisions, Construction, Transportation, Natural Resources, Nuclear & Networks, and Property, alongside our central Group services function. We deliver wide ranging projects and services, from modern and purpose-built educational and healthcare projects to delivering and maintaining roads, rail, water, energy, and telecommunications networks. We are also a strategic supplier to the UK Government, with key strengths in education, healthcare, custodial, transport and defence.
At Kier, our purpose is to sustainably deliver infrastructure which is vital to the UK. For nearly 100 years we have been delivering for communities across the UK, and now, more than ever, it’s important that we do this sustainably. Acting responsibly as a business is critical for us. We aim to give our people the skills to support our purpose and believe we all have a part to play in having a positive environmental and social impact in the communities we work in.
Our partnership and collaboration with ISEP will underpin our purpose, playing a vital role in providing the tools, knowledge, and networks to raise the awareness and competency of people across Kier in relation to environmental and social sustainability.
For more information, please visit: Kier
Laing O’Rourke is an international engineering and construction company delivering state-of-the-art infrastructure and buildings projects for clients in the UK, Middle East and Australia.
Certainty, reliability, quality – this is what our clients want, and we have more than 150 years of experience delivering it.
Our highly-trained and committed people understand the challenges of modern construction, the stakeholders involved, and how to work collaboratively to deliver our clients' aims.
We combine our expertise with purposeful technology, deploying innovations like digital engineering and AI to produce powerful results.
By leveraging the right technology we know we can spark positive change for our clients, their projects and the wider industry. That's why our 2025 mission is to be the construction sector's recognised leader for innovation and excellence.
For more information, please visit: Laing O’Rourke
Mace's Responsible Business team partners with clients to deliver climate-resilient projects, ESG strategies, decarbonisation pathways, and social value creation.
Mace’s sustainability commitment focuses on reducing carbon emissions year-on-year, with a target to save 10 million tonnes of carbon on client projects by 2026. Alongside this, Mace embeds biodiversity enhancement and circular economy principles into every project, positioning itself as an industry leader in driving environmental resilience and social value.
Partnering with ISEP strengthens this ambition by providing access to frameworks, tailored training, and global best practices. Through corporate membership with ISEP Mace is enhancing the Responsible Business Team’s skills, aligning with international standards, and demonstrating measurable impact.
For more information, please visit: Mace
Morgan Sindall Group are eight complementary businesses with one unified culture. We are 6,600 talented people working to create long-term, sustainable value in the built environment. Our Group is geared towards UK demand for affordable housing, investment in infrastructure and construction, and the revival of inner-city areas that have been in decline.
We carry out major infrastructure projects, engineering and design, new build construction and interior fit out and refurbishment, for the public and commercial sectors. We also provide repairs and maintenance for social housing and the wider public sector.
Morgan Sindall Group creates inspiring places that enhance the communities in which we live, learn, work, play, care and protect. Working on projects and frameworks from £50,000 to over £1bn. Using engineering expertise and long-term relationships to deliver safe, innovative and responsible infrastructure for the public and private sectors.
Corporate membership of ISEP helps provide the support, skills and resources we need to deliver sustainable projects and in addition maintain our profile as a sustainable business.
For more information, please visit: Morgan Sindall
RJ McLeod (Contractors) Ltd is a privately owned company operating within the civil engineering market with offices in Glasgow and Dingwall.
We remain one of Scotland's largest privately-owned construction companies, employing 205 staff and 255 operatives.
Since our formation in 1951 we have been associated with a variety of civil engineering disciplines. Today our portfolio includes site infrastructure, streetscaping, local and national road construction, energy, marine and waterways, the water industry, land remediation and development.
Our clients include The Scottish Government, Local Authorities and other public organisations, Local Enterprise companies, energy companies and a wide variety of private sector organisations.
RJ McLeod is committed to promoting the sustainability agenda within our business, our projects and the communities in which we operate. We recognise our impact on the environment, energy use, carbon emissions, approach to supply chain management and social value activities are interlinked. Our strategy is a partnership approach with our clients, designers, supply chain partners and the communities in which we work, as a team, to obtain solutions that benefit of all.
We have decided to become an ISEP Partner as a means of developing the environmental and sustainability skills and knowledge of our workforce.
For more information, please visit: RJ McLeod
Skanska, established in 1887, is one of the world’s leading project development and construction groups. The UK operation is one of the country’s top contractors.
Skanska, one of the UK’s leading contractors, is an inclusive and responsible business that is helping to build a better society. Known for major projects, such as the Gherkin and Crossrail, we are building, upgrading and maintaining the country’s infrastructure. Drawing on our Scandinavian heritage, we are green, innovative and progressive. We bring together people and technology, as part of our quest to make construction a safer and more collaborative industry. Operating around the world in selected home markets in Europe and the US, Skanska is listed on the Stockholm stock exchange and headquartered in Sweden’s capital city.
For more information, please visit: Skanska
When compliance is treated as a box-ticking exercise, or inappropriate contractual arrangements are established, the risks are clear – environmental harm, project delays, programme impacts, enforcement action, and loss of public trust. Conversely, when environmental commitments are embedded early, clearly defined, appropriately delegated, and effectively monitored, projects are higher quality, more resilient, and better aligned with both consented requirements and societal expectations.
ISEP is proud to partner with Association of Environmental Clerks of Works (AEnvCoW) on new industry guiding principles for developments, setting out clear expectations around independence, transparency, reporting, and responsibility.
This paper aims to support practitioners seeking to navigate this complexity and develop robust product carbon footprints
(PCFs) to enable organisations to make decisions and choices that cut emissions.
This paper is aimed at practitioners who are looking to conduct PCFs. It demystifies the process – providing practitioners with an understanding of the standards and guidance that inform PCFs, introducing and explaining key terminology and concepts, and highlighting some of the common challenges and hurdles facing those conducting PCFs.
This paper sets out the case for environmental management as the bedrock of sustainability and a core asset of high value in effective organisation administration. An environmental management system can be used to manage environmental risks effectively and maximise opportunities to achieve long-term prosperity.
This guide is for non-environmental/sustainability senior executives and managers to support their understanding of the value and benefit of a good environmental management system. This paper provides an overview of what an environmental management system is, how it can benefit organisations, how it fits into other management systems across organisations, and the value that environmental management can bring to operations.
England’s pioneering Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) legislation was launch in 2024 and now mandates a 10% gain for biodiversity in the majority of developments in England.
In this paper we have provided a short bitesize summary of ten BNG themes, including reflections on where we are now over a year since implementation and what we would like to see next in the development of BNG.
Experienced impact assessment practitioners know the value of integrating environmental and social considerations into the design of projects to seek and identify opportunities for positive outcomes, enhancements and beneficial effects, as well as identify and seek ways to avoid or mitigate negative and harmful effects.
This publication provides much needed guidance on how to properly implement the mitigation hierarchy from the earliest stages of a project, and how to maintain and communicate the mitigation measures across the pre-consent assessment phase into the crucial construction phase.
ISEP's Corporate Partnership programme supports organisations at every stage of their sustainability journey. Whether you're strengthening environmental leadership, building green skills, creating a net zero strategy, or embedding corporate sustainability across your operations, partnering with ISEP empowers your workforce to deliver tangible impact.
Through its work with a wide range of organisations across sectors, ISEP has developed a strong understanding of the drivers, challenges, and opportunities organisations face in advancing sustainability. Drawing on this experience, we've create a tool that provides a simple and practical way to assess strengths, identify gaps, and uncover barriers that may be slowing progress — helping organisations focus on the actions that will make the greatest impact.
Digital tool to help you assess if your organisation ready to become a sustainable business
No matter what stage you’re at in your career or what sector you work in, we can equip you with the skills, standards and support needed to nurture your talent and advance your career. Whether you’re an environmental specialist, a sustainability generalist, or just want to be a champion for change in your area.
This starts with a specially designed digital tool to analyse your competencies against the ISEP Sustainability Skills Map with our Skills Gap Analysis Tool that both highlights your strengths and identifies where you need to focus on professional development.
Asses your sustainability skills. Plan your next professional step.
Amey recognised that to achieve its sustainability goals, it needed to do more than simply adopt policies or initiatives. It needed to create a culture that prioritised sustainability at every level. ISEP’s helped Amey Group by developing a tailored training programme, which included both in-person and virtual options, designed to align with the specific needs of the organisation. They focused on equipping leaders and staff with practical tools, insights, and the confidence to make sustainability a central part of their roles.
voestalpine Turnout Technology UK (vaTTUK) specialise in the design, manufacture, and supply of railway infrastructure such as switches, crossings, and related components for railway tracks. They are key suppliers for major rail operators in the UK and Republic of Ireland, including supporting projects like High Speed 2 (HS2).
The Group’s carbon reduction targets are SBTi-approved and carbon management has become a key priority at vaTTUK - structured around the requirements of the PAS 2080 carbon reduction hierarchy on a project-level basis, and the GHG Management hierarchy across the wider organisational carbon footprint.
When the Educate & Elevate series was first introduced, our aim was to create a platform where ISEP Corporate Partners could share best practices, collaborate on solutions, and inspire meaningful action. Our recent session on “Understanding PAS 2080: Carbon Management in Infrastructure” was a shining example of how this intent is coming to life.
Delivered in collaboration with Dave Carter and Joe Gil from Auditel, and featuring valuable insights from Matthew Pygott at Speedy Hire, this session drew over 230 attendees – a clear reflection of how pressing and relevant carbon management is becoming within the built environment.
