BREEAM Webinar Series: Driving Lower-Carbon Refurbishment Through Smarter Material Choices

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06 July 2026

BREEAM Webinar Series: Driving Lower-Carbon Refurbishment Through Smarter Material Choices

On 23 June 2026, BRE continued its BREEAM Webinar Series with Driving Lower-Carbon Refurbishment Through Smarter Material Choices, hosted by Jennifer Dudley, Lead Product Manager at BRE, and joined by Alejandro Romero, BREEAM Science Lead at BRE, and Flavie Lowres, Sustainability Champion at the Finishes and Interiors Sector (FIS).

The webinar explored how material decisions made during refurbishment projects can significantly influence whole-life carbon performance. The discussion examined how BREEAM Version 7 strengthens the role of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), encourages earlier design decisions, and supports greater adoption of material reuse and circular economy principles to reduce embodied carbon across the built environment.

Drawing on both the latest BREEAM Version 7 developments and practical project examples, the panel demonstrated how better material strategies can help organisations reduce environmental impact, improve consistency in carbon reporting, and create more resilient refurbishment projects.

If you missed the webinar, or would like to watch it again, the recording is now available.

Watch the webinar

Jennifer Dudley

Lead Product Manager, BRE

“Decarbonising our existing building stock is critical to limiting climate change. Refurbishment presents a real opportunity to make better material decisions that support lower-carbon outcomes, and BREEAM Version 7 has been developed to help project teams make those decisions earlier and with greater confidence.”

Alejandro Romero

BREEAM Science Lead, BRE

“We've worked to ensure that Life Cycle Assessment becomes a decision-making tool rather than simply a reporting exercise. By embedding whole-life carbon assessment from the earliest design stages, BREEAM Version 7 helps project teams make informed material choices that reduce embodied carbon and improve long-term building performance.”

Flavie Lowres

Sustainability Champion, Finishes and Interiors Sector (FIS)

“Some of the biggest opportunities already exist within the buildings we have today. By considering what can be retained, reused and repurposed before specifying new materials, refurbishment projects can achieve significant carbon savings while delivering buildings that perform just as effectively.”

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