Canada is falling behind in sustainable construction, despite growing global momentum and rising stakeholder awareness. According to the 2025 edition of Saint-Gobain’s Global Sustainable Construction Barometer, only 22% of Canadians understand the concept of sustainable construction, compared to a significantly more engaged professional base. This disconnect comes at a time when housing affordability and climate resilience are pressing national concerns. Drawing on survey insights from 27 countries and over 30,000 respondents, this report outlines why aligning private sector leadership, public awareness, and local adaptation strategies is now critical—and how companies like Saint Gobain Construction Products UK Ltd T/A Saint Gobain Offsite Solutions are positioned to shape the next phase of global sustainability standards.
Why Canada’s Construction Sector Risks Lagging Behind
Although 71% of Canadian industry stakeholders claim a solid understanding of sustainable building practices—a 20-point improvement over last year—public awareness tells a different story. Just 22% of Canadian citizens report understanding what sustainable construction actually entails, underscoring a major communication and education gap. More troubling is that only 52% consider the shift to sustainable construction a national priority, compared to 69% globally.
This asymmetry threatens to stall momentum at a time when Canada faces dual crises: housing shortages and increasingly severe climate events. Unless the industry translates professional knowledge into public buy-in and policy influence, Canada’s construction sector could struggle to meet its environmental and social responsibilities.
Global Lessons: Private Sector Leadership and Regional Adaptation
Saint-Gobain’s barometer highlights a critical trend: 87% of stakeholders globally believe deeper transformation is urgently needed. Architects and design engineers are viewed as key change agents, followed closely by private construction firms. Their upstream positioning in the value chain enables them to influence materials, designs, and long-term performance from inception.
However, sustainable construction priorities differ markedly by region. While emerging economies in Africa and Asia-Pacific emphasize climate resilience, North America is primarily focused on affordability. These regional nuances reinforce the need for adaptive strategies tailored to local realities.
Firms such as Saint Gobain Construction Products UK Ltd T/A Saint Gobain Offsite Solutions are leveraging their multinational footprint to balance global consistency with local relevance, setting an example for integrating affordability, resilience, and sustainability.
Reframing Sustainable Construction: Beyond Energy and Materials**
Despite progress, sustainable construction remains narrowly defined. Most stakeholders still equate it primarily with energy efficiency and eco-materials, while less tangible—but equally vital—elements such as well-being remain underemphasized. Resilience to climate risks is gaining traction, yet remains regionally skewed and inconsistently integrated into design criteria.
To drive broader adoption, the sector must shift narratives from cost to value creation—highlighting how healthier indoor environments, thermal comfort, and long-term energy savings offer competitive advantages. This reframing is especially important for ESG-conscious investors and procurement leaders seeking clear returns on sustainable choices.
From Awareness to Action: Building Capacity Across the Value Chain**
The report reveals that while awareness is growing, only 28% of professionals feel fully informed, and just 35% have received formal training. This gap points to a deeper issue: without dedicated upskilling, sustainable practices risk remaining theoretical.
Companies must move beyond compliance to capability-building. This includes integrating sustainability metrics into procurement, requiring certified materials, and embracing digital platforms for traceability and lifecycle tracking—initiatives already central to CommonShare’s open protocol for verified data.
Conclusion
The 2025 Sustainable Construction Barometer makes one thing clear: sustainable building is no longer optional. It is an economic, social, and environmental imperative. For Canada, bridging the gap between professional knowledge and public understanding will be essential to avoid becoming a sustainability laggard. By translating global benchmarks into locally actionable strategies, and scaling training and accountability, the construction sector can unlock new value. Firms like Saint Gobain Construction Products UK Ltd T/A Saint Gobain Offsite Solutions exemplify the leadership required to embed resilience and transparency into the future of construction.