Caring for the environment

Playing our part in the global challenge.

Our operations provide us a close interaction with nature, and our business and industry has a particular role to play across climate change; water and air quality; noise management; responsible and circular resourcing; and biodiversity.

We work closely with clients and design teams to drive positive outcomes across all of these areas, and continuously challenge ourselves and our supply chain to improve our delivery methods. We also understand that these areas are related and mutually reinforcing – the way we approach carbon, for example, will impact on biodiversity and vice versa.

Our carbon commitments outline our trajectory towards achieving net zero for our own operations by 2030 (Scope 1 and 2) and for our value chain by 2050 at the latest (Scope 3). So we’re not just fast tracking the reduction of our own carbon footprint, but supporting our clients and supply chain to do the same.

Our sphere of influence

Multiplex does a lot to support the environment through the construction process. As a business and industry we play a particular role across a range of important and inter-connected areas.

Carbon: our greatest opportunity for impact and materiality

We have a responsibility to reach net zero carbon emissions no later than 2050, and our industry must play its part.

Driven by impact and materiality, we are focused on two significant opportunities to reduce operational and embodied carbon:

  1. Supporting our clients to future proof the design of their buildings, to reduce operational emissions from the energy needed to run them.
  2. Rethinking the materials and processes used to construct buildings to reduce embodied carbon emissions, and helping our supply chain to do the same.

Globally, we have committed to making all our bids on time, on budget and on carbon – whether or not a client has requested it.

The carbon challenge

39%

The building and construction sector is responsible for 39% of all carbon emissions in the world

28%

Operational emissions (from energy used to heat, cool and light buildings) accounts for 28%

11%

The remaining 11% comes from embodied carbon – emissions associated with materials and construction processes

Our carbon commitment

In 2019, we became the first contractor in the world to sign the World Green Building Council’s Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment. This commits us to only owning and occupying assets that operate at net zero carbon by 2030, as well as advocating for all buildings to be net-zero by 2050.

We have clear goals to reduce our Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions and support our clients and supply chain to do the same.

Aligned with these global goals, our regions have set specific local strategies to eliminate Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions.

For more information, see our 2023 ESG report for the UK and 2023 ESG report for Canada.

Net zero carbon for buildings we own/lease (scope 1 and 2) by 2030

Net zero carbon for sites we control (scope 1 and 2) by 2030

Net zero carbon for our value chain (including scope 3) by 2050 at the latest

ENVIRONMENT IN ACTION
Building the evidence for industry to prioritise carbon

Our 7-year leadership and investment in the Cooperative Research Centre for Low Carbon Living, and the evidence it produced, set us on our global pathway to net zero. Read more about our journey here.

Mass Timber Capability

As a long-term builder, we know how to deliver projects that have a positive environmental impact and create enduring value for our clients and the broader community.