Occasionally in the industry you hear a comment which just makes you sigh and remember how far we still must go. The most recent time this happened; the comment went something like this: “Sustainability is for the client and design team to consider – it has nothing to do with construction managers”. Deep sigh.

Sustainability is no longer a “nice-to-have” in the construction industry – it is a necessity. As climate and ecological concerns intensify and regulations evolve, the responsibility for delivering environmentally sustainable projects has become a core priority. At the centre of this transformation are construction managers, whose decisions and leadership directly shape the sustainability outcomes of buildings and infrastructure.

First, I want to acknowledge that the term construction manager can mean something different to different people in different contexts. Historically, on a bigger site, there might have been a Trade Foreman (please forgive the historic gender indicator!). They might report to a General Foreman and then to a Site Agent or Site Manager. In some businesses this person might be called a Build Manager. In others, they might be called a Construction Manager. Sometimes the Construction Manager reports to a Project Manager, sometimes a Contracts Manager. The titles proliferate and roles and responsibilities vary between Project Directors, Project Leaders, Project Executives, and between organisations. To complicate matters more, on Design & Build projects, the contractor is also responsible for co-ordinating and completing the design. The person in the team that picks up this responsibility varies too.

There might also be a Construction Manager, Project Manager or Project Director on the Client’s team, sometimes leading the design team pre-construction. Some are involved at the very start at site acquisition, design team appointment, planning and so on. Their influence is huge.

With different procurement routes like Design & Build, Construction Management and Management Contracting, the roles can be even broader, with different degrees of responsibility and influence.

Chartered construction management professionals can be found in every one of these roles – and more - and the level of influence will vary. But even those working on a traditional project with no design responsibility at all, can impact on sustainability outcomes.  

Turning Vision into Reality

Of course, clients set the brief and the budget envelope, but, even within the confines of this brief, construction managers are responsible for bringing those designs to life. They ensure that sustainability goals - such as energy efficiency, waste reduction, and low-carbon materials - are implemented on-site.

From interpreting green building certifications like BREEAM or LEED to coordinating subcontractors, construction managers bridge the gap between design intent and real-world execution. Without this oversight, even the most sustainable designs can fall short.

Of course, some decisions that will impact on the sustainability of the build will already have been made. But this does not leave construction managers without agency in the process.

Sustainable Procurement and Material Choices

One of the most impactful decisions in construction is the materials management process, which involves planning the volume of materials needed, their delivery timelines, storage and installation. Construction Managers can provide insights into the potential benefits and risks of various materials. They can play a key role in sourcing materials that are:

• Locally produced (reducing transport emissions)
• Recycled, reused or renewable
• Low in embodied carbon

They also support the development of sustainability criteria for supplier selection and vetting of suppliers for ethical and environmental practices. By doing so, they influence not just the project footprint but also the sustainability of the broader supply chain.

Waste Reduction and Resource Efficiency

Construction sites are traditionally associated with significant volumes of waste. However, effective construction managers implement strategies such as:

• On-site recycling and waste segregation
• Lean construction techniques to minimise excess materials
• Prefabrication and modular building approaches
• Ensuring data is collected to demonstrate waste performance

A more innovative construction manager might seek recycled materials with lower embodied carbon or suggest bio-based materials that have sequestered carbon in their gestation.

These practices not only reduce environmental impact but sometimes cut costs. There is also growing evidence that more sustainable buildings are more desirable and cheaper to run, therefore attracting higher valuations. This demonstrates that sustainability and profitability can align for all. 

Energy and Carbon Management on Site

Construction managers oversee the day-to-day operations that determine energy use during the build phase. They can reduce carbon emissions by:

• Using energy-efficient machinery
• Scheduling deliveries to minimise idling and transport emissions
• Monitoring fuel and electricity consumption

In many projects today, carbon tracking is becoming as important as cost tracking - and construction managers are leading that shift. 

Many sites now routinely use electric plant and equipment; some have solar PV and battery storage with on-site EV charging points. Others have cycle shelters for site staff to use or nature features such as gardens and green roofs. These sites often score highest in Considerate Constructor rankings and achieve premium BREEAM point scores too. Such initiatives can make the site operations cleaner, quieter, healthier for all - reducing GHG emissions from construction activities and supporting nature.

Compliance with Environmental Regulations

Environmental regulations have become more stringent, particularly in regions like the UK and EU. Construction managers ensure compliance with legal and other requirements around:

• Emissions and pollution control
• Water usage and runoff
• Noise and community impact

Beyond avoiding penalties, strong compliance reinforces a project’s sustainability credentials and reputation.

Driving Innovation and Continuous Improvement

Modern construction managers are not just implementers - they’re innovators. Many are adopting and implementing:

• Digital tools like Building Information Modelling (BIM) to optimise resource use
• Some are working with design managers and specialists, using digital twins to evaluate alternatives
• Smart technologies for monitoring energy and environmental performance
• Modern construction methods such as offsite manufacturing
• Identifying new processes and better ways of working

By embracing innovation, construction managers can identify opportunities to improve sustainability across the entire project lifecycle.

Stakeholder Engagement and Leadership

Sustainability is a collective effort. Construction managers act as leaders who influence teams, stakeholders, and clients. They:

• Educate workers on sustainable practices
• Encourage accountability across subcontractors
• Liaise with specialists such as ecologists and sustainability consultants 
• Communicate about sustainability goals and progress to clients

Their leadership fosters a culture where sustainability becomes embedded in everyday decision-making.

Balancing Cost, Time, and Sustainability

Construction Managers must include provision for the costs of remediating environmental and social impacts in the project budget and delivering on sustainability objectives. 

One of the biggest challenges is balancing competing priorities. Construction managers must deliver projects safely, on time and within budget, while also meeting sustainability and other targets. Skilled construction managers find creative solutions, navigate value engineering or lifecycle costing, to demonstrate that sustainable choices often lead to long-term savings.

A view from a Construction Manager

I spoke to incoming CIOB President Saul Humphrey, to ask him how he sees the role of the Construction Manager in relation to sustainability.

“Construction Managers and Project Managers all have agency. We can (and must) focus on the methods and materials that are not only cost effective, but also of the highest quality, not necessarily the minimum standard, preferring more sustainable and more resilient solutions. This might promote more re-used or bio-based materials, the use of material passports to aid future re-cycling, better insulation, more renewable energy or battery storage; or more nature-based enhancements. Solutions that reduce operational and (upfront) embodied carbon, enhance biodiversity and reduce waste and pollution. After all, the contractor is often engaged to Design and Build and we will increasingly be judged more on a building’s post occupancy performance rather than simply delivery at handover.

“We can all support solutions that avoid (inadvertently) creating stranded assets but instead create premium value(s). Buildings that can boast zero bills, net zero carbon compliance or BREEAM outstanding are more desirable and more valuable. If we all seek to add value, we also avoid a race to the bottom where only the cheapest wins. 

“At organisational level we can also choose our projects, choose our clients and seek to align and collaborate with those that complement our vision and values.

“We can all focus on doing the right thing well, exceeding expectations and helping to build a more sustainable, more resilient future.

“This way, we can stop being seen as part of the problem and instead become a major player in creating a more sustainable and more resilient future.”

Construction managers are at the forefront of the industry’s sustainability transformation. Their influence spans every stage of a project - from procurement and planning to execution and delivery. By championing sustainable practices, they not only reduce environmental impact but also drive innovation, efficiency, and long-term value.

As the built environment continues to evolve, the role of construction managers will only grow more critical. In many ways, they are not just building structures, they are building a more sustainable future.