The Environmental Impact of Material Choices

The recent East of England Sustainable Building Network (EESBN) event brought together industry professionals to explore the environmental impact of material choices in construction. The session featured a presentation by James Mickelburgh of JENSEN HUNT DESIGN, a structural and civil engineering practice, recognised for their sustainability-led approach and focus on low-carbon, carefully considered material strategies.

James shared insight into one of the practice’s heritage projects, explaining how the team challenged conventional processes by prioritising climate impact from the outset. By effectively reversing aspects of the traditional RIBA workflow, they established an early commitment to eliminating high-carbon materials such as concrete, allowing this principle to shape both the design and material selection throughout the project.

Attendees gained  insight into the use of natural and low-carbon materials including Glapor, limecrete, wood fibre insulation, and Adaptavate plaster. The session demonstrated how early-stage decision-making and collaborative thinking can significantly reduce embodied carbon, offering a clear and engaging example of how sustainable construction can be successfully delivered in practice.

If you couldn’t make it, click here to download the presentation.