Practices in Reducing Embodied Carbon in Construction in Malaysia

Abstract

Embodied carbon in a construction project contributes 10% to 20% of the total global carbon emissions. Often practices in reducing embodied carbon are fragmented and relatively less emphasized as opposed to operational carbon emission. Hence this study aims to identify the practices of reducing embodied carbon in a construction project. A systematic literature review was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA framework). A total of The final selection of sample of literature materials amounted to 28 publications published between 2015 and 2024 were analysed. The findings revealed that there are a total of 14 practices in reducing embodied carbon emission that can be adopted in a construction project. The present study contributes to the body of knowledge where it addresses the research gap that exists regarding the lack of clarity on the holistic practices for reducing embodied carbon in construction. It provides valuable insights and emphasises the areas in which improvements can be made to ensure a more robust approach to the mitigation of embodied carbon for achieving a sustainable construction.