A global study with strong African relevance

Saint-Gobain has released the 4th edition of its global Sustainable Construction Barometer, which offers fresh insights into sustainable construction trends. The study spans 30 countries and gathers input from 4,800 stakeholders and 30,000 citizens. As a result, it stands as one of the most comprehensive studies of its kind. This year’s findings highlight a growing focus on resilience and adaptation in construction across global markets.

Importantly, the Barometer’s findings resonate strongly in Africa, where rapid urbanisation and climate-related risks are reshaping construction priorities. For the first time, Kenya joins South Africa, Egypt, and Morocco in the study, providing a broader and more nuanced view of regional perspectives. In Africa, sustainable construction is increasingly defined by the ability of buildings to withstand climatic and environmental shocks. This shift underscores the growing importance of durability and resilience in local contexts.

From awareness to integration

Globally, sustainable construction is widely recognised as essential. However, the Barometer reveals a persistent gap between awareness and implementation. Despite this recognition, resilience is not yet consistently embedded in investment decisions, development strategies, or large-scale construction planning. This trend is evident both globally and within African markets.

New insight: the role of finance

For the first time, the Barometer includes a qualitative study with banks, development finance institutions, and insurers. It explores how resilience and adaptation are factored into investment decisions. While the financial sector acknowledges the importance of resilient construction, it still struggles to translate these considerations into credit models and capital allocation frameworks.

The key barrier: demonstrating value

A common challenge across regions is the lack of clear, measurable returns on investment for resilience and adaptation. Unlike carbon reduction, which uses standardised metrics, resilience often delivers long-term and indirect benefits, such as reduced future losses and asset value preservation. Encouragingly, 51% of African stakeholders believe sustainable construction offers greater value than traditional methods. This reflects a growing recognition of its economic potential.

Unlocking the transition

The Barometer identifies three key levers to accelerate adoption:

1. Making the benefits of sustainable construction more tangible.
2. Guaranteeing performance for end users.
3. Demonstrating the economic competitiveness of solutions.

In Africa, access to appropriate financing could significantly improve the competitiveness and adoption of sustainable construction materials and solutions. Financial institutions are expected to play a central role in driving progress.

Saint-Gobain driving the conversation forward

Saint-Gobain continues to lead the global dialogue on sustainable construction. Through the 4th Sustainable Construction Barometer, the company supports regions like Africa in translating global insights into locally relevant actions.

The full report is available at: Saint-Gobain Sustainable Construction Observatory.