As Ireland advances towards its 2030 climate and circular economy goals, county councils find themselves at the forefront of this national transformation. From emissions reporting to waste oversight and compliance with the Circular Economy Act, local authorities are tasked with an unprecedented administrative burden. Yet, staffing and resources remain stretched.

France has emerged as a frontrunner in enforcing the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), sending a clear message: sustainability reporting is not a tick-box exercise—it’s a legal obligation. For companies looking to compete in Europe’s increasingly ESG-driven public and private sectors, non-compliance is now a serious business risk.

It’s the least glamorous part of construction—muckaway, spoil removal, site clearance. But it’s becoming one of the most high-stakes items in public tenders.

Why? Because muckaway and site clearance are major Scope 3 emissions sources—and now they’re being scrutinised by procurement teams, auditors, and investors alike.

For developers managing multiple sites and suppliers, sustainability reporting is becoming a logistical nightmare. With CSRD deadlines tightening and Scope 3 emissions under the microscope, spreadsheet-based systems just won’t cut it anymore.

To stay competitive and compliant, you need more than estimates. You need real-time ESG visibility across every active job.

That’s where Hub360 comes in.

If you're bidding for public works, infrastructure, or county council projects in 2025 and beyond, carbon reporting isn’t just a compliance box—it’s a deciding factor.

Thanks to the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and tightening procurement rules, the question facing every construction business is now this:

Can you prove your Scope 3 emissions—live, load-by-load?

If not, you may already be falling behind in the race for public and private sector contracts.

Across the construction sector, many developers are still relying on outdated emissions tracking methods such as:

• Generic emissions factor charts.

• Manual reporting from subcontractors.

• Fuel consumption estimates not adjusted for terrain, load, or idle time.

• Paper logs that are prone to error or manipulation.

As environmental regulations tighten and public scrutiny rises, Irish county councils are facing a new and complex challenge: how to confidently and legally verify the movement of materials and emissions across their construction and maintenance projects.

For years, the industry standard has relied on paper dockets, manually completed spreadsheets, and assumed emissions factors passed up the chain from subcontractors. But those days are coming to an end.

According to PwC’s Global Investor Survey 2024:

• 94% of investors believe ESG data should be assured to the same standard as financial data

• 75% say they would penalise companies that fail to provide complete Scope 3 emissions disclosures

• 78% plan to reallocate capital away from ESG underperformers

The message is clear: vague estimates and partial disclosures are no longer acceptable.

As the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) takes full effect across the EU, Scope 3 emissions have become a central focus in sustainability reporting. For large and listed companies, the requirement to disclose value chain emissions marks a significant step up in climate accountability.

Unlike Scope 1 and 2 emissions—relating to direct operations and purchased energy—Scope 3 encompasses all other indirect emissions across an organisation’s value chain. These include transport, procurement, subcontractors, materials, and waste. It’s where the majority of emissions typically occur—and where the biggest challenges lie.

The "FlowForma Construction Survey Results Report: Building the Foundations of the Future" (July 2022), published by the Construction Industry Federation (CIF), explores the impact of digital transformation and workflow automation on the construction sector. The report highlights how construction decision-makers are transitioning away from manual processes and adopting automated, data-driven solutions to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and improve project outcomes.

Public infrastructure projects across Europe are entering a new phase—one defined not by voluntary ESG commitments but by legally enforceable carbon reporting requirements. At the centre of this shift is Scope 3 emissions: the indirect emissions generated by supply chains, transport, subcontractors, and material usage.

With the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) now in force and enforcement mechanisms ramping up across EU member states and the UK, organisations relying on estimates or static spreadsheets are on a collision course with regulation.

Ireland is on a journey towards a circular economy, and the National Waste Management Plan for a Circular Economy 2024–2030 plays a crucial role in shaping this transformation. A major aspect of this plan is the implementation of robust monitoring and reporting mechanisms to track progress towards construction and demolition (C&D) waste reduction and recycling targets, ensuring transparency and accountability.

County councils across Ireland are tasked with executing these measures within their jurisdictions, working closely with national and EU regulatory bodies. These efforts are essential in driving Ireland’s construction waste management practices forward and aligning them with the highest environmental standards.