Europe: The Environmental Coalition on Standards (ECOS) has called on EU lawmakers to mandate sustainability criteria for public procurement under the proposed Public Procurement Act. In a joint statement with fellow Buy Better to Build Better (BBBB) members, ECOS praised the bill’s recognition of quality alongside costs as a decision-making factor in public procurement. However, ECOS criticised the failure of the bill in its present form to establish sustainability ‘by default,’ and to address the construction sector, which accounts for the largest share of public contracts.

BBBB co-coordinator Tudor Cherhat said "The construction sector gets almost a third of its business from public projects. Mandatory environmental measures could almost halve construction-related emissions, while giving businesses and procurers the right tools to act.”

UK: Heidelberg Materials UK has won a contract to supply 3000m3 of its reduced-CO₂ EvoBuild concrete for basement floors of the new 33 – 35 Piccadilly retail and office development in London. The company produces EvoBuild concrete using its 50% carbon-captured EvoBuild cement from the Brevik cement plant in Norway and EvoBuild ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS). In comparison to ordinary Portland cement-based concrete, EvoBuild concrete reduces CO₂ emissions by 35%, while increasing durability and lifespan. Heidelberg Materials UK will fulfil the contract with concrete from its nearby King's Cross batching plant. Additionally, it will include a waterproofing system in the mix to protect against water ingress from surrounding alluvial clay.

Australia: Modular housing developer Built Living has secured US$172m-worth of new financing for its planned construction of a components plant at Neerabup, Western Australia. The plant will initially produce precast concrete slabs, core elements and wall panels, as well as façade systems. The Australian government will invest US$86.2m from the National Reconstruction Fund, while conglomerate Wesfarmers will invest US$14.4m. Meanwhile, the Western Australian government contributed a US$71.8m grant, along with land for the plant. Built Offsite News has reported that Built Living plans to begin building a 2000-unit/yr pilot plant at the site later in 2026.

The Australian government says that Built Living’s methods will reduce residential construction’s lead time by 20% and halve costs.

New Zealand/South East Asia: Concrete additives producer Neocrete has raised US$3.5m in a funding round led by returning investor Wavemaker Ventures, with participation from Icehouse Ventures and Temasek Trust vehicle Catalytic Capital for Climate and Health (C3H). Neocrete’s fly ash and volcanic ash-based additive substitutes for up to 50% of cement, while maintaining the strength, durability and workability of the resulting concrete. The company will invest the new finances in continued deployment across South East Asia and a planned European and US expansion.

Neocrete is supplying 65,000m³ of its additives for use in concrete mixes in Readymix Brunei’s redevelopment of Muara Port, Brunei. Readymix Brunei participated in the original pilot of production of Neocrete’s additive using locally-available refuse ash. It has poured 3700m³ of ash-blended concrete to date, eliminating 215t (25%) of CO₂ emissions. The Muara Port redevelopment will avoid a further 5200t of CO₂ emissions through the use of the additive.