Sustainable construction has become an increasingly important focus across the building industry – and for good reason. Construction projects use significant quantities of raw materials, generate large volumes of waste and can have a considerable environmental impact throughout their lifetime.

However, sustainable construction is about far more than adding solar panels, choosing a few recycled products or putting the right waste into the right skip. It begins at the planning and design stage, then continues through material sourcing, construction, operation, maintenance and, eventually, demolition or deconstruction.

It can involve preventing unnecessary waste, reusing suitable materials, choosing recycled aggregates, reducing transport requirements and designing buildings that are easier to adapt, dismantle or reuse in the future. It also means looking beyond what appears sustainable at first glance. For example, a locally sourced material may not always have the lowest carbon footprint, while mixed construction waste may still contain valuable materials that can be recovered and recycled.

So, how much do you really know about sustainable construction practices?

This quiz explores some myths and general facts about construction waste, recycled materials, concrete, embodied carbon and responsible resource use. So, grab your imaginary hard hat, make your choices and see how your knowledge stacks up.

Sustainable construction quiz

Is your knowledge rock solid or built on shaky foundations? Launch the quiz and find out!

1 / 10

Using recycled aggregates means accepting a lower-quality material. Fact or myth?

Fact – recycled aggregates are only suitable for temporary works

Fact – recycled aggregates are always weaker than quarried materials

Myth – when properly processed, recycled aggregates can meet the required specifications for many construction uses

Myth – recycled aggregates can replace every type of quarried material

2 / 10

Which stage of concrete production is generally responsible for the greatest proportion of its carbon emissions?

Washing the sand

Manufacturing the cement

Transporting the finished concrete

Crushing the aggregate

3 / 10

Off-site construction produces no waste because components are made in a factory. Fact or myth?

Fact – factory production eliminates all waste

Myth – off-site construction can reduce waste, but offcuts, packaging and damaged materials may still be generated

Fact – provided every component is made to measure

Myth – off-site construction usually creates more waste than traditional construction

4 / 10

What does ‘designing for deconstruction’ mean?

Designing buildings so they can be demolished as quickly as possible

Using materials that naturally break down over time

Designing components so they can be removed, reused or recycled more easily

Avoiding permanent buildings altogether

5 / 10

The most locally sourced construction material will always have the lowest carbon footprint. Fact or myth?

Fact – transport is always the largest source of emissions

Myth – production methods, material lifespan and transport all need to be considered

Fact – provided it comes from within 50 miles

Myth – the distance travelled makes no difference at all

6 / 10

Which action sits highest in the waste hierarchy?

Recycling a material

Recovering energy from it

Preventing the waste from being created

Disposing of it responsibly

7 / 10

Putting all construction waste into one mixed skip means none of it can be recycled. Fact or myth?

Fact – mixed waste must always go to landfill

Myth – it can be sorted at a suitable waste facility, although separating materials on site may improve recovery

Fact – unless the skip contains only wood

Myth – every mixed load can be completely recycled

8 / 10

What is ‘embodied carbon’ in a building?

The emissions produced by heating and powering the building

The carbon stored in the people using the building

The emissions associated with producing, transporting, constructing, maintaining and disposing of the building’s materials

The amount of carbon dioxide inside the building

9 / 10

Reclaimed construction materials can always be reused in exactly the same way as new ones. Fact or myth?

Fact – older construction materials are always stronger

Myth – their condition, performance and suitability still need to be assessed

Fact – provided they have been cleaned

Myth – reclaimed materials cannot legally be used in buildings

10 / 10

Soil excavated during construction is automatically classed as harmless inert material. Fact or myth?

Fact – all natural soil is inert

Myth – it may contain contaminants or other materials and should be properly assessed

Fact – provided it looks clean

Myth – excavated soil must always be treated as hazardous waste

Your score is

The average score is 100%

How did you do?

90–100%
Sustainability superstar
You’re smashing it and could probably spot a sustainability myth before it had even put its hi-vis on.

70–80%
Savvy site manager
Your knowledge is built on firm foundations, with only the occasional myth slipping through the cracks. No need to call in the demolition team.

50–60%
Eco apprentice
You’ve got the basic structure in place, but a few answers could do with some extra work. Still, every expert has to start somewhere – and you’re well on your way.

0–40%
Myth magnet
Those myths clearly saw you coming. Never mind – check the answers, brush off the dust and have another go. We’ll say no more about it if you don’t.

The sustainable construction mythbuster

How did you do?

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