Irish building materials supplier has become the latest name to throw its support behind an ambitious campaign to speed up the transition to a net zero built environment by 2050.

The firm has pledged its commitment to the World Green Building Council campaign, the Advancing Net Zero project.

The Advancing Net Zero project aims for every single building – both new and existing – to operate at zero carbon emissions by 2050, or sooner. This will be achieved by improving energy efficiency and performance in buildings.

Kingspan is committed to promoting an envelope first approach and supporting the industry's development of innovative solutions towards decarbonisation. This will require systemic change in the way products are manufactured, used and transported around the world.

As well as sponsoring the Advancing Net Zero Project, Kingspan was also announced as a signatory to WorldGBC's Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment in September 2019, an invitation issued to businesses, cities, governments and industry. The commitment challenges signatories to achieve net zero on all operational emissions for their building portfolio by 2030 and advocates for all buildings globally to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

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Cristina Gamboa, CEO of the World Green Building Council, said: "Our Advancing Net Zero project is expanding its international impact, driving towards full decarbonisation of buildings and construction. The support of leading companies such as Kingspan demonstrates how industry are willing to meet their obligations towards responsible business operations, and be prepared for the bolder and more ambitious regulation we hope to see from policymakers. Our global network of Green Building Councils is committed to developing the solutions needed to radically change the way our industry operates into a more circular, responsible and restorative sector."

As well as its support behind the WorldGBC, Kingspan recently announced Planet Passionate, its major 10-year global sustainability programme which will play its part in reducing the world's carbon emissions by 45% by 2030.

Gene Murtagh, CEO of Kingspan, commented: "We are excited to be part of the WGBC's Advancing Net Zero project as the aims of this work perfectly align with our own Planet Passionate strategy - making this partnership a natural fit and further focusing us on decarbonising the built environment. Alongside this, the Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment is a critically important programme that is helping the industry move towards a more sustainable future and we're honoured to be on board as a signatory. We are always looking for opportunities to collaborate with others to make the industry more sustainable and to encourage others to do the same."

(CM/MH)