If you’re looking to build more sustainably, considering the environmental impact of the materials you use in your projects is a great place to start.
Several sustainability standards exist for construction materials, each addressing different aspects of environmental, social, and economic considerations.
Here are some widely recognised sustainability standards for construction materials that you should look for if you’re wanting to demonstrably improve the sustainability of your projects along with some resources designed to help you select appropriate products.
Recognised Sustainability Certifications
Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)
EPDs provide transparent and standardised information about the environmental performance of a product. EPDs are based on lifecycle assessments and can be used to compare the environmental impact of different products.
Cradle to Cradle (C2C) Certification
C2C is a holistic certification that assesses products based on their environmental and social performance throughout their entire lifecycle. It evaluates factors such as material health, material reutilisation, and renewable energy use.
FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) Certification
FSC certification ensures that wood and wood-based products come from responsibly managed forests. It is commonly used to demonstrate the sustainable sourcing of timber and wood products in construction.
Environmental Profiles Certification Scheme
The Environmental Profiles Certification Scheme provides ongoing, independent assessment and certification of environmental performance. It is designed to help specifiers confidently select materials and products in the knowledge that their environmental performance will be as specified.
Responsible Sourcing of Construction Products: BES 6001
Products assessed against the BES 6001 standard demonstrate that they have not been manufactured in ways that damage the environment or unfairly exploit the workforce.
Resources For Selecting Sustainable Materials
The Green Guide to Specification
The Green Guide is a resource developed by the Building Research Establishment (BRE) that provides environmental performance ratings for construction materials. It helps specifiers and designers make informed decisions about the environmental impact of different materials.
Green Book Live
Green Book Live is a free online database used to help identify products that can help to reduce the impact of construction projects on the environment. The database features listings from suppliers able to deliver comprehensive information on green products, including some approved to stringent environmental requirements.
When evaluating the sustainability of construction materials in the UK, it’s often beneficial to consider a combination of these certifications and standards to address various environmental and social aspects of sustainability.
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