Embodied Carbon

Embodied carbon is the total greenhouse gas emissions produced over the entire lifecycle of a material, product, building, or infrastructure project before it becomes operational. This includes emissions from raw material extraction, manufacturing, transportation, construction, and eventual disposal. 

Embodied carbon is a critical factor in assessing the environmental impact of construction and manufacturing, as it accounts for the carbon footprint locked into materials and infrastructure before they are even in use. Attention, embodied carbon is distinct from operational carbon — the carbon that comes from the building’s consumption (energy, heat, lighting, etc).