1. Use of AI and technology in sustainable design and reporting

In 2025, AI and smart technologies are becoming pivotal in sustainable workplace design, transforming how organisations track, interpret, and act on data to reduce their environmental impact.

Traditionally, businesses have relied on manual methods - scouring invoices, reading meters, and entering data into Excel sheets. But this is changing. With smart meters and data loggers, buildings can now monitor energy usage and consumption in real time - sometimes down to the second. These insights are automatically fed into digital dashboards, enabling organisations to identify inefficiencies and target energy savings more effectively.

Imagine a workplace where lighting and HVAC systems automatically adjust based on occupancy and external weather conditions. This isn’t a distant future - AI-driven smart building systems are already making this possible. By dynamically responding to real-time data, these technologies support energy efficiency and help businesses meet their net zero goals.

AI also plays a growing role in sustainable material selection. At TSK, we’re developing a bespoke AI tool to streamline environmental compliance reviews for workplace furniture and materials. This innovation will help speed up project timelines, enhance SKA and BREEAM certification outcomes, and ensure that material choices align with broader sustainability objectives.

Ultimately, AI in sustainable design shifts the focus from static tracking to actionable intelligence - empowering companies to make faster, smarter decisions that build more sustainable workplaces.

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2. Launch of the UK Net Zero Building Standard

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The UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard is a free-to-access technical standard that will enable the built environment industry to prove that built assets align with the UK’s carbon and energy budgets.

The Standard is for anyone who wants to fund, procure, design, or specify a net zero carbon building, and for those who wish to demonstrate that their building is net zero carbon aligned. It covers all major building sectors including new build and existing buildings.

A pilot was introduced in September 2024, and the plan is to launch the standard officially in late 2025. Until now, the absence of a unified definition for a "net zero building" has led to varied interpretations, allowing companies to set their own standards and justify net-zero claims on individual terms.

The standard will cover:

• Upfront embodied carbon from materials and construction.
• Fossil-fuel-free operations.
• Limits on operational energy.
• Minimum on-site renewable generation.
• Transparent carbon reporting.

With this framework, stakeholders can trust that a building labelled as net zero meets rigorous criteria. Investors gain assurance, while clients can incorporate verified sustainability outcomes into their ESG and corporate strategies.

Planning authorities are likely to consider these benchmarks in future policy, embedding net zero compliance into national and local regulations. As the standard evolves post-launch, it may surpass traditional benchmarks like BREEAM, placing even greater emphasis on delivering carbon-free buildings in practice - not just on paper.

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3. Update to the SKA Rating good practice measures 

The SKA Rating system for office fit-outs is receiving a major overhaul in 2025 - its first since 2013 - to align with current sustainability priorities and industry advancements.

The first draft of SKA rating for Offices 2.0 has been released in May for public consultation and closed mid-June. Once public consultation feedback has been considered, a final version will be published with full implementation to follow shortly after, by the end of summer 2025.

The revised measures reflect progress in waste management, circular economy adoption, and carbon reduction across the construction sector. Whereas early SKA ratings emphasised waste diversion from landfill, today that’s largely considered baseline. The focus is now shifting to reuse, recyclability, and designing for disassembly.

This circular approach supports more sustainable workplace refurbishments, enabling components to be repaired, recycled, or reused with ease.

Key updates will include:

• Support Net Zero goals: By prioritising operational and embodied carbon reductions, the measures will align with the UK’s net-zero objectives, helping to standardise practices across the sector.
• Encourage circular economy practices: Beyond reducing waste, the measures will nudge the industry toward innovations that support reuse and sustainable manufacturing.
• Clearer pathways for achieving higher SKA scores through innovation and low-impact product choices.
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4. Enhanced sustainability regulation coming into force

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As the drive toward sustainability intensifies, enhanced regulations are reshaping how commercial buildings are designed, refurbished, and managed. This evolution marks a shift from planning to delivery, with concrete milestones on the horizon.

Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES)

The MEES regulations will impose tougher requirements on UK commercial buildings:

• By 2028, buildings must meet at least an EPC rating of C to be leased.
• By 2030, the minimum requirement rises to an EPC rating of B.

This is already driving investment in energy-efficient upgrades, particularly among commercial landlords. Demand for Grade A office space - often better aligned with EPC goals - is far outstripping supply. Landlords now play a key role in decarbonising the UK’s office market while staying competitive.

Local net zero deadlines

While the UK’s national net zero target remains 2050, some city regions, including Greater Manchester, have adopted accelerated timelines - aiming for 2038. For developers, occupiers, and landlords, this creates a medium-term urgency. Projects initiated now must be designed with stricter carbon and energy benchmarks in mind.

Enhanced regulations and planning policy updates will continue to put pressure on underperforming assets. Commercial landlords will need robust sustainability strategies - not only to comply, but to avoid stranded asset risk.

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5. Acceleration of companies taking action to reduce scope 1 and 2 emissions

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2025 marks a turning point in business sustainability. The time for pledges and strategy decks is over - now, stakeholders want evidence of delivery. For workplace leaders, the focus is firmly on reducing Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions through actionable decarbonisation strategies.

Scope 1: Direct emissions

Scope 1 emissions stem from activities under an organisation’s direct control - like burning gas for heating or using diesel fleet vehicles.

Key actions include:

• Eliminating fossil fuels from heating systems, in favour of electric or renewable alternatives.
• Fleet electrification, replacing combustion vehicles with EVs.
• Low-carbon construction methods that reduce emissions at the build stage.

Scope 2: Purchased energy

Scope 2 emissions come from the energy a business buys. Many are adopting advanced solutions to drive change:

• Green energy tariffs, though common, offer limited impact.
• Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with renewable generators ensure traceable and impactful procurement - often referred to as “dark green” energy.
• On-site renewables such as solar PV, paired with battery storage, reduce grid reliance and improve energy resilience.

These strategies are essential to delivering on ESG commitments and building future-ready workplaces. As stakeholders grow more discerning, companies that fail to show measurable action may face reputational and financial risks.

Looking ahead

As we progress through 2025, organisations will face growing expectations to prove how they’re delivering on their sustainability promises. The shift from planning to action is happening now - and it’s accelerating.

Whether you’re a commercial landlord aligning with net zero regulations or a workplace leader developing a decarbonisation strategy, this is the time to act. Those who do will not only meet compliance thresholds but also lead the way in building truly sustainable, future-proof environments.

Let’s keep the momentum going. I’ll be sharing more workplace sustainability tips, tools, and insights throughout the year.

If you’re looking to accelerate your workplace decarbonisation strategy or need support aligning your assets with net zero regulations, reach out to the TSK team here.