For years, the construction industry has largely centered its sustainability efforts around certifications like LEED. While those frameworks remain important, the conversation is evolving. Today, the focus is broader and more integrated into how companies operate at every level.

At rand*, that evolution is already underway. Because for us, sustainability isn’t just about meeting expectations. It’s about leading with intention, partnering with purpose, and building in a way that supports both our clients and the world around us.

Q&A with rand* Sustainability Specialist Sebastian Gominho

Q: How is sustainability evolving within the construction industry today?
Sustainability is shifting to a broader, corporate-level approach. It’s no longer just about individual projects, it’s about how organizations operate as a whole.

Q: What are some of the biggest challenges the industry is facing?
There are a few key challenges: climate change, resource depletion, and pollution are top of mind. But one of the biggest hurdles is the gap between ambition and execution. Many organizations have set aggressive sustainability targets, but the tools, data, and supply chains needed to deliver on them are still developing.

Q: How are client expectations changing?
We’re seeing more clients with their own ESG commitments and they expect their construction partners to align with them and adopt platforms like EcoVadis, CDP, and SBTi. That’s influencing everything from bid requirements to how projects are delivered. There’s a clear shift toward accountability and transparency.

Built together: A Shared Responsibility

One of the biggest themes driving this work is collaboration.

“Our focus is working more closely with our partners,” Sebastian shared. “Whether it’s subcontractors, clients, or architects, we’re focused on aligning goals and making it easier to achieve them together.”

That means:

• Partnering with subcontractors to gather supplier-level data efficiently
• Supporting clients with the sustainability metrics they need
• Collaborating with architects to specify more sustainable materials

Because real progress doesn’t happen in silos, it happens through strategic partnership.

Looking Ahead

Success for rand* is about shifting mindsets. It’s about embedding sustainability into how we think, build, and collaborate, and it’s about growing alongside our clients and partners who share that same vision.

Q: What does success look like in the coming years?
Success means continuing to evolve how we approach sustainability by moving from intention to integration across everything we do. We need to stay adaptable as expectations and innovations continue to advance.

This Earth Day, we’re not just reflecting, we’re moving forward.

By building on our foundation, we’re reinforcing what has always been core to how we operate: strong partnerships, thoughtful execution, and a commitment to building better.

For our clients. For our communities. And for what comes next.