environment
Embodied Carbon
We are dedicated to enhancing our data collection and analysis to quantify and understand our sources, targeting embodied carbon reductions and measuring their impact to effectively support our decarbonization efforts.
Materials are extracted, processed into useful products and transported before being incorporated into our buildings. These activities generate emissions, known as embodied or cradle-to-gate emissions, which constitute the largest share of our Scope 3 footprint, primarily in the categories of Purchased Goods and Services and Capital Goods. It is critical that we address embodied carbon through our decarbonization strategy.
Since 2022, whole building life cycle assessments (WBLCAs) have allowed us to quantify embodied emissions and better understand their sources. This work supports our internal decarbonization efforts and contributes to a growing industry knowledge base about embodied carbon.
In 2024, we began targeting embodied carbon reductions in priority commodities and measuring the resulting impact. Our strategy follows a hierarchy for mitigating embodied carbon:
Avoid
At the end of 2023, we updated our design standard to include methods for minimizing raw material quantities. For example, we increased our soft landscaping requirement to reduce concrete and asphalt volumes while supporting on-site biodiversity. We also now require design teams to explore opportunities to repurpose existing structures and maximize reuse of materials in the construction of Equinix facilities.
At the end of 2024, we introduced a dedicated sustainability clause in our contract template with general contractors that encourages the investigation of material optimization beyond a focus on reducing cost.
Avoid
Identifying opportunities to dematerialize, thereby avoiding some carbon emissions entirely.
Reduce
In 2024, we focused on reducing embodied carbon in priority commodities identified as major contributors to our footprint, such as civil, structural and architectural (CSA) materials and mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) components. We targeted these commodities through a pilot program spanning multiple projects. Our project teams and general contractors worked together to achieve and measure these reductions and assess potential cost increases.
This pilot program enabled us to:
- Achieve embodied carbon emission reductions for the pilot projects.
- Signal our expectations to our general contractors and the suppliers involved in the pilots.
- Test and validate processes and contractual clauses for global rollout readiness, incorporating stakeholder feedback.
Reduce
Selecting lower-impact alternatives for the materials that cannot be eliminated.
The testing and validation process included:
- Developing a process to effectively evaluate embodied carbon reductions for targeted commodities from design to construction, ensuring continuity.
- Creating resources for tracking, collecting and reporting embodied carbon and cost data at each project stage.
- Implementing a streamlined decision-making process for including low-embodied-carbon alternatives in the business-case review of the project.
- Codifying clauses in our contracts to ensure as-built embodied carbon data collection and general contractor engagement in the evaluation of low carbon alternatives.
As a result of this pilot program, by the end of 2024, all new builds will have the support of an embodied carbon consultant from design to construction to evaluate low-embodied-carbon alternatives for targeted key commodities. Additionally, we updated our contract template with general contractors to reserve the right to request product embodied carbon data in the form of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and LCAs, or, in the absence of more accurate product-specific data, in the form of product material breakdowns.
SG6
The first phase of our SG6 IBX is planned for completion in 2027 and will feature a sustainability-driven design that aligns with Singapore’s Green Plan 2030. Key sustainability features include renewable energy coverage, lower embodied carbon building materials, energy-efficient cooling systems and rainwater harvesting capabilities. Throughout every project stage, we have evaluated the viability of including lower embodied carbon building materials focused on key commodities. As this work continues, the project team is gathering product specific embodied carbon data and ensuring embodied carbon performance requirements will be met in construction.
LD14
In 2024, we collaborated with the contractor Laing O’Rourke at our LD14 site to achieve an overall A1-A3 embodied carbon reduction across structural steel, concrete and rebar of approximately 30% compared to the country average benchmark for A1-A3 embodied carbon emissions from these commodities.
FRNx
The FRNx-Office in our Frankfurt campus features a variety of functions, including flexible office spaces, dedicated workshop areas for student training, and both indoor and outdoor canteens designed to foster community and engagement. This building is set to enhance collaboration between teams for years to come.
In alignment with Equinix commitment to sustainability, the entire vertical structure of the building is constructed from timber. By implementing a hybrid timber structure (timber columns with a hybrid slab system that features a concrete deck supported by timber beams), the project has achieved around 15% reduction in embodied carbon (A1-A3) compared to a traditional concrete frame, and about 33% reduction when factoring in biogenic carbon.1
Key strategies included:
- The use of glued laminated timber (glulam) for columns and beams, significantly reducing the need for concrete and steel.
- The implementation of lighter timber framing, which minimizes the amount of concrete and steel required for foundations.
- The selection of glulam timber for the exterior façade and balconies instead of steel.
- The adoption of lighter precast hollow core slabs, as opposed to traditional concrete slabs.
We are actively evaluating the implementation of hybrid timber frame structures for other projects as well.
1Biogenic carbon refers to the carbon dioxide (CO2) that is absorbed from the atmosphere by living organisms, particularly plants, during the process of photosynthesis. When these organisms die or are harvested (such as trees used for timber), the carbon stored in their biomass can be released back into the atmosphere. However, if the biomass is used in construction or other long-lasting products, the carbon remains sequestered, effectively reducing the net carbon emissions associated with that material.
Innovate
In our pursuit of decarbonization, we are comprehensively assessing the robustness of emerging technologies, their geographic reach and the scale of their impact. In 2024, we started discussing the maturity and viability of some of these solutions, particularly regarding innovative materials, with some of our general contractors. We seek relationships with general contractors dedicated to finding solutions that reduce embodied carbon.
Innovate
Exploring partnerships that accelerate and scale innovative technologies and materials that may be complementary to a low-carbon future.
Case Study
Achieving more with less
In 2024, we achieved a near doubling of our cabinet density in some retail and commercial cloud xScale® data centers by doing more on the same rack as well as using fewer network switches. With more computing occurring in less space, we reduced the need for additional building square footage to meet customer needs and thereby reduced embodied emissions per megawatt. Designing buildings to accommodate denser workloads also facilitates more heat recovery and liquid cooling, enables us to work with a wider range of equipment types and prepares us to meet growing demand for processing power.
