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Dive Brief:- Construction input prices increased 0.4% in March due to inflationary pressures and escalating supply chain issues, according to new Associated Builders and Contractors’ analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Producer Price Index data released Thursday.- Input prices have now increased in every month of 2024, offsetting the three months of moderation that ended 2023. Both overall and nonresidential construction costs remain 1.7% higher compared to last year, according to the report.- “This is not especially good news for those who purchase construction services,” said Anirban Basu, ABC chief economist. “Were it not for declines in energy prices, the headline figure for construction input price dynamics would have been meaningfully higher.”Dive Insight:Earlier this week, the consumer price index in March also rose more than forecast for the third straight month, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Ken Simonson, chief economist at the Associated General Contractors of America, echoed Basu’s sentiment that growing evidence of resurfacing inflation is a negative for nonresidential construction activity.“Not much to get excited about,” said Simonson in an email to Construction Dive. “Extreme lead times are still occurring for electrical equipment — large transformers and switchgear, sometimes elevator or HVAC parts.”Prices increased for 10 of the 20 commodities tracked by ABC, according to the release. Materials like softwood lumber jumped 3.2% over the past month, while copper wire and cable increased 1.6%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. On the flip side, prices fell in all three energy subcategories in March.Along with inflation, a new set of supply chain issues are also pushing materials costs higher, said Basu. That includes the increasing cost of insuring ships, bottlenecks in the Red Sea, capacity pressures at the Panama Canal and the Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore. “In addition to supply chain issues, there is an abundance of publicly and privately financed megaprojects around the nation, massively increasing demand for certain inputs,” said Basu. “And a majority of contractors expect their sales to increase over the next six months.”That means to expect financing construction projects to remain expensive relative to historic norms for the foreseeable future, said Basu.

Listen to the article 6 min This audio is auto-generated. Please let us know if you have feedback.This article is one in a series of conversations with women leaders in the construction industry. Click here for past discussions.While pursuing an engineering degree at the University of Notre Dame 16 years ago, Christina Champness became interested in a career in commercial construction. Preferring hands-on challenges over the monotony of a desk job, Champness said that she gravitated toward construction for the opportunity to use her problem-solving skills on complex projects.An internship with Australia-based developer and contractor Lendlease solidified her conviction. “Progressing from intern to full-time project engineer and subsequently to my current role as project executive, I can say after more than 15 years that no two days have been the same and I made the right decision,” she said.The youngest project executive in Lendlease’s New York City office, Champness is part of the firm’s healthcare construction team. She has worked on projects for NYU Langone Health, White Plains Hospital and Blythedale Children’s Hospital, among others. “Every phase of each project has different demands, but to date, my duties have included managing a team of project managers and superintendents, overseeing buyout of subcontractors, scheduling development, constructability drawing review, cost management, field coordination and, perhaps most important, review of safety measures,” she said.Here, Champness talks with Construction Dive about challenges in healthcare construction, moving up the career ladder and the importance of continuing education.This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.CONSTRUCTION DIVE: What special challenges do healthcare projects present?CHRISTINA CHAMPNESS: Because the healthcare industry evolves so frequently and so quickly, medical spaces require unparalleled flexibility and adaptability. They are also highly technical and complex projects and therefore benefit from close collaboration among all stakeholders. This has always been the case, but it became even more apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic.For example, my team was renovating multiple spaces for NYU Langone Health, including the main campus in Manhattan, when the onset of COVID-19 compelled us to pivot and quickly build temporary testing and treatment spaces. My construction team, our subcontractors, the client and the design team were in constant communication to find the most efficient way to achieve what we wanted to build, even as our understanding of the virus and the risks it posed developed. We were able to build these spaces in a very short period due to the hard work and collaborative mindset of everyone involved.Several years removed from the start of the pandemic, it remains apparent that the dynamism of the sector requires those involved in healthcare construction to stay abreast of the latest trends and technologies. It’s also evident that communication among all parties throughout every stage of a project is the best way to ensure a successful outcome.What project have you most enjoyed working on and why? One of my favorite projects was our expansion and renovation program for Blythedale Children’s Hospital in Westchester, New York. I helped oversee site work — including replacement of gas-fired chillers, relocation of the chiller exhaust flue to the exterior of the building and cooling tower installation and refurbishment. A patient room at the Blythedale Children’s Hospital.Permission granted by LendleaseMy team and I completed many other tasks during our long-term engagement with BCH, including renovation and expansion of the Milton Spahn Therapy Village, construction of a new simulation lab and parent training center, new pharmacy and expansion of the traumatic brain injury unit. This high-tech center can provide rehabilitation and recovery services for more than 170 young patients at a time. It is very rewarding to be part of a team making a difference for children and their families.What benefits are there to working in construction?The variability of this job keeps me on my toes and energizes me to come to work, as I never know what fresh challenge awaits me each day. Since assuming a senior leadership position, I've refined my multitasking skills so as to more effectively manage numerous ongoing projects and project partner relationships. That said, I’ve also learned to delegate — a task that is all the easier due to the diverse and knowledgeable team I work with at Lendlease. By establishing and training a capable team, I have confidence that all client needs are met and every project continues to move forward.What advice would you give to young women considering construction as a career? Construction has historically been a male-dominated industry, but that’s slowly starting to change. Not only are there incredible job opportunities — women who enter the field can have a meaningful impact on individual projects and the broader industry by contributing their unique point of view. Self-empowerment is the best approach for any young women who want to advance their construction career. This means speaking up, both to ask questions and to offer insights, so their voices are heard.I also encourage the next generation to actively seek out education and training opportunities, which include formal certification and accreditation programs that complement their on-the-job experience. Continuing education not only keeps you informed of trends but also demonstrates engagement and initiative when applying for leadership positions and interacting with clients.

Listen to the article 3 min This audio is auto-generated. Please let us know if you have feedback.Dive Brief:- Reversing a dramatic plunge last year, investment in construction technology grew 20% year-over-year for Q1 2024 to $672 million, according to a quarterly report from Cemex Ventures, the contech-focused venture capital arm of Madrid-based Cemex.- Despite the growth in dollars, the number of deals dropped by 4%, down to 66, per the report. The report claims this could indicate a potential shift in investment strategies or market dynamics through the rest of the year.- North America retained its top status in the investment cycle, as 80% of investment flowed through the region. Europe was second, with 14% of dollars coming through, followed by Asia & Oceania with 2%.Dive Insight:The quarterly paper comes on the heels of the VC’s annual note on the state of contech, which it released in January, that highlighted a 44% drop in investment in the space during 2023. The reports diverged on two key trends. While less money flooded the space last year, there were more individual deals. But in Q1, the opposite was true: fewer deals, but more dollars overall. “Last year’s decline in Contech investment should not be confused as a sign that investors are cooling off and looking elsewhere,” said Miguel Carralón, investment advisor at Cemex Ventures. “We expect moderate larger rounds and more activity in late stage deals for 2024, especially with green or AI related solutions.” The growth is a good sign for the contech industry, which is not immune to inflationary and fiscal pressures that harm the overall venture capital ecosystem. It also points to a more noticeable trend of startups swimming in cash, as established firms struggle to break into new client bases.Four contech groupingsThe report divided companies into the four focus areas: enhanced productivity, green construction, construction supply chain, and construction’s future.Those that focused on enhanced productivity were the most active, and claimed 54% of total investment dollars, per the firm. Green construction was second, with 31% of funding, which includes solutions related to decarbonization, carbon capture, sustainable materials and water conservation. Supply chain and future technologies accounted for 8% and 7%, respectively. This is another reversal from the trend set by the 2023 report, where enhanced productivity and green construction companies have swapped positions. However, Carralón cautioned that one quarter was not enough to predict the year’s direction.“We expect a similar year compared to 2023, so Q2 should perform like the previous quarter in terms of activity but we will probably see bigger deals and a higher number of bets in early-stage rounds,” Carralón said.

Listen to the article 2 min This audio is auto-generated. Please let us know if you have feedback.Dive Brief:- The Michigan State University Board of Trustees has approved the construction of a seven-story, 335,000-square-foot biomedical research center worth $335 million, the university announced on April 12. Southfield, Michigan-based Barton Malow is the construction manager on the project, the university confirmed to Construction Dive in an email.- The Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Research Center will be MSU’s largest research facility to date, designed to accommodate more than 80 principal investigator teams and the latest technology, according to the release. It’s part of a larger, $3 billion development with Henry Ford Health, MSU and the NBA’s Detroit Pistons.- The new facility will allow partners to expand research in areas including cancer, neuroscience, immunology and public health. Construction is expected to begin in mid-May, per the release. The research center is set to open in 2027.Dive Insight:Along with the center, the larger development’s scope includes a new hospital tower and campus as well as mixed-use/mixed-income residential buildings.The Nick Gilbert Neurofibromatosis Research Institute will occupy an entire floor of the new building. It will be the first brick-and-mortar institute solely dedicated to neurofibromatosis, the university said in its release, and will bring unique opportunities for collaboration with researchers around the world.“Our goal is to build a research powerhouse focused on bringing hope and health to all people and that serves as a national model for how universities, health care systems and communities can work together,” said Norman Beauchamp, executive vice president for MSU Health Sciences.

Listen to the article 2 min This audio is auto-generated. Please let us know if you have feedback.Three construction workers were killed early Wednesday morning when a large box truck entered an active work zone on I-83 in Fairview Township, Pennsylvania, according to state police.The truck, driven by Reed Davenport, 24, collided with a construction vehicle inside the work zone around 3 a.m. and entered the shoulder of the highway, where it then struck the construction workers, who were sealing highway cracks, AP News reported. Other details, such as the speed Davenport was traveling when he hit the workers, has not been released. The workers were pronounced dead at the scene, and have yet to be identified.The collision coincided with “Go Orange Day,” encouraging citizens to wear bright orange as part of PennDOT’s Work Zone Awareness Week, designed to encourage careful driving around roadway work zones. In Pennsylvania, interstate construction zones on projects above $300,000 are equipped with speed-monitoring devices to alert drivers of their speed before they pass through the work zone.Motorists in the state can lose their license for recklessly driving through a work zone. Fines are doubled for speeding, driving under the influence and failure to obey traffic devices in work zones. Plus, Pennsylvania drivers convicted of homicide by vehicle for a crash in a work zone face up to five additional years of jail time. Last month, a driver was sentenced for 18 months for his role in a high-profile work zone crash near Baltimore in March 2023 that killed six construction workers. Melachi Brown pleaded guilty to six charges of manslaughter for the collision in which his car, traveling 121 mph on I-695, clipped Lisa Lea, who was traveling 108 mph. Lea’s trial is scheduled for this month.

Listen to the article 2 min This audio is auto-generated. Please let us know if you have feedback.Arkansas DOT broke ground Wednesday on two construction projects worth a total of $308.5 million around the Northwest Arkansas National Airport, the agency said in a news release. Phase Two of the Springdale Bypass and the XNA Connector will work together to make travel to the airport more accessible and accommodate a growing population in Benton County.“When complete, these two new sections of highway will improve traffic flow for the growing Northwest Arkansas region, providing safe, modernized roadways,” said Arkansas DOT Director Lorie Tudor in the release.The agency awarded Phase Two of the four-phase Springdale Bypass project to Columbia, Missouri-based Emery Sapp & Sons for $180.8 million. When all phases are finished, the project is expected to span about 21 miles.The Springdale Bypass leading to the airport is a four-lane, 7-mile divided interstate with interchanges along Highway 412 in Tontitown to the bypass at Highway 112 in Benton and Washington counties. The estimated completion date is late 2026, according to the agency.The XNA Connector is a four-lane interstate that will stretch nearly 4 miles between the airport and the Springdale Bypass. It was awarded to Columbus, Kansas-headquartered Crossland Construction Co. for $127.7 million. The Connector will include 11 bridges, an interchange at the project’s south end and a tie-in to Highway 264, per Arkansas DOT. Construction is set to be finished in late 2027.The busy regional airport, also known as XNA, has been expanding over the past few years amid economic and population growth, and has purchased 350 acres of surrounding land for future projects, according to Axios. The 25-year-old facility tallied over 1 million passengers last year, per the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

Dive Brief:- Workers in construction and other industries are worried about artificial intelligence, and it’s keeping their companies from moving forward more decisively with the surging technology. Those are two big takeaways from the second annual report on productivity from project management software maker Quickbase. - Nearly all workers – a whopping 94% — range from slightly to extremely concerned about the impacts of AI on data security, compliance or privacy risks. At the same time, 42% named those factors as the largest barrier to the adoption of AI by their organization. This hurdle ranked higher than implementation costs or perceived return on investment, per the report.- The survey, which spoke to nearly 2,000 professionals in the U.S. and U.K. across complex, operationally driven industries including construction, manufacturing and healthcare, also found that 58% of respondents spent less than 20 hours per week on work that created meaningful results.Dive Insight:The results are similar to last year’s findings on “gray work,” or work that teams do to create ad-hoc solutions to solve problems and keep moving. For example, Quickbase revealed that around 45% of respondents spent more than 11 hours per work week chasing information across different people and systems.Tech doesn’t seem to be making problems go away, either. Seventy-four percent of people who answered Quickbase’s questions found that compared to a year ago, the amount of manual work in their jobs has either increased or stayed the same since the prior year.In addition, 94% of respondents reported feeling overwhelmed by the number of software products they need to use every day to get their work done, up from 87% in 2023, per the survey.As artificial intelligence grows in popularity, data confidence will become even more important. While the report found that 92% of respondents were curious on some level about AI-powered tools that could boost productivity and efficiency, only 10% of respondents claimed to be “extremely confident” in the accuracy of their key project information.That could spell trouble for the end users of AI-based programs, who will glean insights from those tools but still may not trust them.Finding solutionsTo cut through this digital clutter, Quickbase advocates for users to integrate tools, simplify processes and embrace automation and collaboration to mitigate gray work.“Finding ways to connect workers on-site or on the shop floor with people in the back office and regional or corporate offices will ensure valuable project and process data isn’t lost,” the report claims.On the data side, the company writes that strong data governance wouldn’t just be a logical safety choice, but will also create a competitive advantage. “When workers are empowered with the data they need, they’re able to drive more successful outcomes easier and faster. And the gap between the IT department and the day-to-day business goes away,” per the survey.

Being a fleet operator in today’s climate is hard – skyrocketing operating costs, exacerbated by volatile fuel prices, are only intensifying the economic pressure operators have been facing since 2020. The expectation is to achieve more with less—smaller budgets, fewer skilled workers and outdated tech has solidified a tough new norm for operators.Moreover, the lack of technological innovation long-plaguing these industries means leaders are now using too many different systems to manage their day-to-day operations, and these require more manual overhead than available. Operators are facing a proliferation of unactionable data across all aspects of their business due to these siloed systems. Worse, this is allowing hidden cost centers, like fraudulent spending to quietly drain bottom lines.To shed light on how pressing these issues are today, Motive surveyed 1,000 leaders across trucking and logistics, construction, oil and gas and more, to understand the depth of these challenges. Captured in the first-ever Physical Economy Outlook report, respondents revealed fragmented fleet and financial operations are core to their challenges.Key insights:- Rising costs are one of the biggest challenges that threatened businesses in 2023.- 46% of leaders admitted to using more than 10 individual tools to manage their operations.- One in three said they don’t have the visibility needed to effectively do their jobs.- 44% of leaders believe that fraud is having a big financial impact on their business, but they don’t know how to detect it.Embedded finance: Ushering in a new era of profitability by connecting fleet and spendEmbedded finance is increasingly being adopted across various industries to integrate financial services and products, such as expense management and credit cards, within non-financial platforms. However, it’s only recently that this type of integrated solution has become available for physical economy industries such as trucking, supply chain services, construction and agriculture.This integrated approach erases the fragmented experiences of the past, giving operators complete control over their business in one platform. This eliminates the hassle of multiple logins or context switching and finally puts an end to the time-consuming task of manual reconciliations and matchbacks.Even better, through the unification of data across fleet and spend, operators can proactively protect their profits through valuable insights that aid the detection of missed savings opportunities, and fraudulent and wasteful spend.What was once a complex and siloed web of fleet operations and finances, is now simplified. From identifying untapped savings to flagging fraudulent transactions and unnecessary expenditures, this holistic view is transforming data into actionable intelligence, ushering in a new era of profitability.Motive Card - an embedded spend management solutionMotive is the only platform that brings fleet and spend together in a single integrated platform streamlining financial operations, unlocking cost efficiencies and increasing savings. For example, Motive’s new Missed Savings feature will give Fleet Managers visibility into drivers spending wastefully on higher-priced fuel. They can uncover insights to coach their drivers, update spend profiles or even block specific merchants to prevent future missed savings. This feature is unique to Motive with shared data between fleet and spend providing a 360-degree view of driver routes, fuel prices and Motive Card partner rebates to enable this functionality.Similarly, shared data across Motive’s platform also reveals hidden fraud by utilizing data such as GPS location, telematics and fleet card spend and has the potential to bolster profitability by up to 19%. Suspicious transaction alerts for mismatches in vehicle and spend location, or irregularities between fuel purchased and volume filled up help businesses detect fraudulent fuel transactions in near-real time, turning potential losses into profits.Customers who use the Motive platform to manage both fleet and spend can realize real savings, for example, Hardy and Harper reduced fuel costs by 24%. Adam Stowers, Equipment Manager said, “Instead of simply monitoring our fuel spend, we can implement active measures to control it. Drivers also have to verify their identity with the Motive Driver App, which helps reduce fraud.”Cascade Environmental has also observed benefits by adopting Motive’s all-in-one platform, with Alex Amort, VP of Compliance stating “The Motive Card showed that it has additional features and additional savings. So not only now does the card integrate with the app, we're able to obtain true, documented, direct savings to the bottom line.” By adopting Motive, Cascade Environmental has saved over 800 hours monthly on IFTA reporting as a result of breaking down data silos.Learn more about managing your spend using the Motive Card at gomotive.com/motive-card.

When bad or soft soils are encountered on a job site, many contractors automatically turn to the same solutions they've always used. However, their "go-to" method like over-excavation, geotextiles or chemical stabilization may not be the cheapest or fastest but could actually cost them more in material costs or lost time on the job site. Many contractors are turning to geogrid technology for its consistent performance and its ability to decrease the required amount of aggregate leading to lower material costs and faster installation.InterAx GeogridTensar, a Division of CMCFailure with Geotextile Soil StabilizationA contractor in Seattle was building an access road over historic marshland when the crew encountered a high water table and 10-15 ft. of soft soils. The original solution to stabilize the subgrade used a non-woven geotextile and two to three feet of rock. But the roads quickly rutted and became un-serviceable for their heavy dump trucks. Time was of the essence since the access road was critical for transporting a necessary drill rig. Lost productivity was the last thing they needed.Geotextile RuttingTensar, a Division of CMCMany assume that geotextiles are a great solution to stop rutting because they equate high tensile strength with better in-ground performance. However, when it comes to soil stabilization, meaning the ground will endure intermittent loads applied from above (like heavy dump trucks), tensile strength won't get you very far. It has been widely documented that the ability to confine granular fill materials is the key to higher performance.Geogrid/GeotextileTensar, a Division of CMCThe contractor contacted Tensar who offered a soil stabilization solution using geogrid. A stabilization geogrid has apertures (openings) that allow granular materials to interlock. This interlock confines the granular particles to keep them from spreading laterally when loads are applied from above. This is why stabilization geogrid is recommended for applications such as roadways - a stiffer stabilized layer resists rutting and improves bearing capacity. A geotextile can't provide the necessary interlock which is why performance suffers.The geogrid design not only reduced the required aggregate thickness but also allowed the use of 3/4” aggregate instead of the expensive ballast rock originally specified. Ultimately, the contractor was able to recover valuable time with this geogrid solution and kept costs similar to the original budget.Delays with Chemical StabilizationChemical soil stabilization methods like cement, lime and fly ash are popular choices for strengthening poor subgrades. But, does their popularity rest on misunderstandings? The low initial cost of soil stabilization chemicals may be attractive, but other factors that go into proper installation like soil compatibility, curing time and specialized equipment needs are often overlooked. There are also steep penalties for environmental statute violations and uncertainty surrounding its long-term performance.A contractor in El Dorado Hills, CA needed a solution to stabilize soft soils encountered on a building pad site. After reviewing options, the initial solution was to cement-treat the entire site. However, after a series of heavy rainstorms, the cement stabilization failed, with the site experiencing heavy deflections and rutting from construction traffic. The engineer needed to provide the contractor with a recommendation to stabilize the subgrade since the site would need to support heavy construction traffic and eventually heavy crane loading. El Dorado 1Tensar, a Division of CMCWorking with the engineer, a local Tensar representative visited the site to perform DCP testing in areas experiencing rutting. Using data from the DCPs, the client was provided with several design scenarios using Tensar geogrid. Since Tensar geogrid improves the confinement of unbound aggregate materials, the ground becomes a more durable working surface. Subgrade strength-specific aggregate thicknesses ranging from 8-12” was placed on top of the geogrid. This solution minimized planned over-excavation, reducing costs and allowing the project to stay on schedule.Geogrid offers contractors many advantages. Reduced dependence on materials, lower material and labor costs, greater flexibility in work conditions and less environmental impact are valuable advantages to consider when planning roadway construction.

Listen to the article 6 min This audio is auto-generated. Please let us know if you have feedback.Garrett Gibson is a trial attorney in the Houston office of national law firm Eversheds Sutherland.Opinions are the author’s own.Issues around greenwashing practices have hit home with industries across the country in the past five years as numerous government and private plaintiffs have filed lawsuits alleging that companies’ claims about sustainability achievements and environmental friendliness are overstated. At its core, greenwashing occurs when a company makes an untrue or unverifiable claim or gives the impression that its products, services or supply chain are more environmentally friendly than they actually are. Greenwashing lawsuits are often brought as false advertising claims: Consumers or regulators assert a claim that a company inflated its environmental bona fides to attract buyers.Greenwashing-related lawsuits have affected nearly every major industry in recent years. As an attorney focusing on the construction industry, I’ve written about greenwashing lawsuits and whether they are a passing fad (probably not), how these lawsuits have impacted the retail sectors (often) and how companies can mitigate the risk of greenwashing lawsuits (carefully).Garrett GibsonPermission granted by Eversheds SutherlandSo far, the construction industry remains largely insulated from these claims, but is that about to change? If so, how quickly will these lawsuits materialize, and what can be done to prevent them?A push for sustainabilityCombined, buildings and the construction industry make up an estimated 37% of global emissions. New York City has recently enacted new standards for building emissions for buildings larger than 25,000 square feet, forcing property owners to reduce emissions in the coming years or face fines. Similarly, California has followed suit, imposing emissions standards for buildings ranging from 50,000 to 100,000 square feet. In addition, California requires that all new commercial construction be “Zero Net Energy” or “ZNE” by 2030 (i.e., “where the actual annual consumed energy is less than or equal to the on-site renewable generated energy,” according to the California Public Utilities Commission.)These types of regulations are pushing the industry to strive for increasingly aggressive environmental benchmarks. Owners, contractors and architects are more often making design choices and value-engineering decisions driven by environmental factors, leading building systems contractors or manufacturers to advertise their environmental friendliness with vague terms such as:- Sustainable.- Green.- Environmentally friendly.- Carbon friendly.- Carbon neutral.Most greenwashing litigation surrounds companies allegedly using terms such as these without any meaningful data to substantiate these terms.Greenwashing litigation has both proliferated and shifted its targets. Early greenwashing claims were brought by environmental activists and government regulators who accused the major oil and gas giants of greenwashing the scope of their conventional energy businesses by playing up their investments in renewable energies. This shifted to consumer-facing lawsuits that accuse fashion retailers and major household brands of selling products that are not as recyclable, compostable or environmentally friendly as claimed. Now, state attorney generals are becoming more involved, most notably with a greenwashing lawsuit filed by the New York attorney general against one of the largest meat companies in the world.Construction leaders would be wise to understand that greenwashing targets are constantly and rapidly evolving and changing. While construction hasn’t been targeted yet, it likely will be, particularly as the environmental regulations begin to come into effect. How to avoid problemsThere are several steps that construction firms can take to minimize their exposure. They include:Make your claims as specific as possible. Broad, unqualified claims such as a product is “green,” “sustainable” or “eco-friendly” are often viewed as deceiving. Almost all materials and equipment have some environmental impact. It is a best practice for companies to qualify claims by saying a building material or building system is clean or sustainable relative to a quantifiable baseline. Claims backed up by measurable, verifiable data are the strongest.Be truthful in the scope of the emissions covered by your claim. Any claim that material or equipment is the product of low- or zero-emissions may be interpreted to cover the full lifecycle emissions of the product, including all downstream suppliers of its component materials and any end-of-life-cycle disposal requirements. Companies have been accused of greenwashing by considering only a slice of a material’s emissions lifecycle. To mitigate risk, companies should specify if their claims are meant to cover the full lifecycle or are limited to a certain portion.Be cautious about relying on carbon offsets. The corporate practice of purchasing carbon offsets in the market to achieve environmental goals has been the target of recent greenwashing lawsuits that accuse prominent carbon credit brokers of “inaccurate accounting” and selling credits that result in “non-immediate speculative emissions reductions.” Be aware that carbon offsets are not a risk-free strategy for meeting publicly stated emissions goals. Consider whether the company’s operational practices support a verifiable net reduction in environmental impact.Greenwashing lawsuits have risen meteorically in the last five years, affecting almost all major industries. With increasing pressure to limit the emissions of buildings and construction, we will likely see greenwashing lawsuits in the industry in the near future.

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