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Article
How AECOM is advancing decarbonization by design
Ida Namur, Vice President of Global Sustainability Programs at AECOM, and Panu Pasanen, Founder & CEO of One Click LCA, explore AECOM's commitment to decarbonizing the work they deliver for clients — and how new digital tools enable global fulfillment of this commitment.
Image: One Click LCA
AECOM, a global Fortune 500 infrastructure consulting firm, is taking significant steps to decarbonize the projects they deliver for clients through their innovative ScopeX approach. This initiative, led by Ida Namur, Vice President of Global Sustainability Programs at AECOM, aims to achieve a 50% carbon reduction on major client projects. To scale up these efforts, AECOM has entered into a multi-year enterprise partnership with One Click LCA, the world's leading end-to-end sustainability platform for construction and manufacturing.
AECOM’s current sustainability efforts and the role of digital tools
AECOM's commitment to sustainability extends beyond their own operations. While they have set science-based targets for reducing their operational emissions (Scopes 1, 2, and 3), the company recognized the need to address the emissions resulting from the services they deliver. This led to the development of ScopeX, which focuses on programmatically collaborating with clients and partners to integrate carbon management and decarbonization services early in project conversations.
Key aspects of AECOM's sustainability approach include early integration of carbon considerations in the project lifecycle, and aligning with PAS 2080, a carbon management framework for infrastructure.
Ida Namur highlights the importance of integrating decarbonization into the early stages of project planning. A significant portion of a project's carbon footprint is determined in these early stages, making it critical to employ carbon management strategies from the outset. Integrating with One Click LCA’s sustainability software platform helps enable systematic measurement and thus management of carbon.
One Click LCA allows AECOM to scale its decarbonization efforts globally, enabling the consistent application of carbon management practices across diverse markets. The software’s ability to comply with local standards while maintaining a global approach is particularly beneficial, allowing AECOM to serve clients with tailored solutions that meet regional regulations and sustainability goals.
Advancing decarbonization by design with AECOM
See how AECOM embeds decarbonization globally using One Click LCA’s advanced tools.
One Click LCA's impact on building & infrastructure design sustainability
Panu Pasanen emphasizes that sustainability at scale requires tools that are not only robust, but also user-friendly and adaptable to various project phases. One Click LCA's tools integrate seamlessly with existing workflows, making it easier for engineers and project managers to incorporate sustainability into their daily tasks without added complexity.
A critical component of this integration is the Materials Compass, which helps designers and engineers select sustainable materials even if they are not experts in life cycle assessment (LCA). This tool provides access to reliable sustainability data, enabling informed decision-making that aligns with both local regulations and global sustainability standards. By allowing non-experts to make better decisions earlier in the project lifecycle, One Click LCA facilitates broader adoption of low-carbon practices.
New benchmarks for digital technology in sustainable development globally
AECOM and One Click LCA’s multi-year enterprise partnership agreement sets new benchmarks for the use of digital technology in sustainable development. By using a consistent platform globally, AECOM can ensure more accurate and comparable carbon assessments across projects. The tools allow for seamless integration of carbon assessment into the design process, making it easier for professionals to consider sustainability in their daily work. Access to comprehensive databases and assessment tools enables more informed decisions about materials and design options. Digital tools allow for the implementation of sustainability strategies across a large portfolio of projects. Further, the ability to collect and analyze data from multiple projects enables ongoing refinement of sustainability strategies.
The future of sustainable development, as discussed by Namur and Pasanen, lies in the widespread adoption of digital tools that enable consistent, data-driven decision-making. These tools not only help in achieving regulatory compliance, but also in driving business growth by aligning with the increasing demand for sustainable solutions.
Key takeaways
AECOM’s approach to decarbonization, supported by One Click LCA, highlights that decarbonization is most effective when addressed early in the project lifecycle. It is essential to integrate decarbonization into existing workflows to ensure scalability and ease of implementation. Additionally, collaboration across the industry is critical to drive consistent and impactful carbon reduction. By adopting these practices, AECOM sets a new industry standard, using digital tools to amplify its sustainability efforts and increase the potential for global carbon reduction.
How One Click LCA can help you advance decarbonization
One Click LCA is the world’s leading end-to-end sustainability software platform — offering easy-to-use, automated life cycle assessment (LCA) and environmental product declaration solutions. The all-in-one LCA software enables you to conduct thorough assessments of your construction projects, providing precise data on the carbon footprint of materials and processes throughout the project lifecycle.
Additionally, the Materials Compass allows you to effortlessly compare and select sustainable building materials, ensuring that your material choices are aligned with your decarbonization objectives. Together, these tools make it simple to integrate sustainability into every stage of your construction projects, driving significant carbon reductions.
