The Framework Standard for Responsible Sourcing of Construction Products provides a holistic approach to managing a product from the point at which component materials are mined or harvested, through manufacture and processing.
Responsible Sourcing of Construction Products is demonstrated through an ethos of supply chain management and product stewardship and encompasses social, economic and environmental factors. It addresses aspects such as stakeholder engagement, labour practices and the management of supply chains serving materials sectors upstream of the manufacturer.
The BES 6001 Standard
The BES 6001 standard focuses on individual materials or products, which means that it’s the materials that the company has submitted for evaluation that are covered by the certification, not the organisation itself. A company may sell some products that are certified, whilst still selling others that have not yet been assessed.
The standard is broken down into three sections:
• Organisational Management Requirements
• Supply Chain Management Requirements
• Requirements Related to the Management of Sustainable Development
The standard asssesses the management practices of the organisation seeking certification, and also the nature, sources and make-up of the various component materials in the product.
To meet this Standard, organisations must satisfy certain compulsory elements. In addition, there are higher levels of compliance that can result in a higher performance rating being awarded. This Standard also provides a route to gaining credits under the BREEAM family of certification schemes.
V4.0 of the BES 6001 Standard
Following public consultation, version 4.0 of the BES 6001 Standard has been published and is available for certification. V4.0 has enhanced emphasis on social aspects, sustainable procurement and supply chain engagement and additional environmental themes including biodiversity and site stewardship. Requirements have also been introduced to award science-based target setting and to encourage continuous improvement. The scoring structure also enables manufacturers to focus on criteria material to their organisations and products.
V4.0 of the BES 6001 requirements
The topics included in version 4.0 of the BES 6001 standard are:
| Organisational Management Requirements | Supply Chain Management Requirements | Management of Sustainable Development Requirements | Management of Sustainable Development Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Responsible sourcing policy | Quality management systems in the supply chain | Greenhouse gas emissions | Transport impacts |
| Compliance obligations | Environmental management systems in the supply chain | Energy use | Biodiversity & site stewardship |
| Management systems & operational management of responsible sourcing | Health & safety management systems in the supply chain | Resource use & product circularity | Human rights & modern slavery |
| Procurement & supplier management | Waste prevention & waste management | Business ethics | |
| Water usage or abstraction | Employment & skills | ||
| Life cycle assessment | Local communities | ||
| Ecotoxicity |
The Scheme Document and certificates listings related to Responsible Sourcing of Construction Products are also available on the Green Book Live.
Benefits of BES 6001 Certification
Benefits for product manufacturers
Differentiation of your products against competitors
Securing increased competitiveness and market share
Demonstrate sustainable procurement and supply chain engagement
Enhance your brand reputation and sustainability credentials
Benchmark your manufacturing performance and facilitate continuous improvement through certification
Benefits for specifiers and purchasers
Secure additional credits in green building certification schemes, including BREEAM
Reduce risk throughout the supply chain
Demonstrate responsible, sustainable procurement practices
The Certification Process
Step 1
Download and complete the application form, including details of the products and sites requiring certification and submit via email.
Step 2
Using the completed application form, BRE will generate a formal proposal for you.
Step 3
Once a proposal is agreed, the certifying organisation submits their evidence pack to demonstrate compliance with BES 6001 requirements.
Step 4
BRE review the submitted evidence and complete the pre-assessment report to identify any non-conformances.
Step 5
A site visit is organised to visit the manufacturing site and review the non-conformances identified.
Step 6
The final assessment report is completed.
Step 7
Certification is published on our listing website, GreenBookLive & included in our BES 6001 league tables.
Step 8
Certificate is valid for 3 years with annual verification required in years 1 & 2.
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Want to know more?
If you have any technical queries regarding the BES 6001 certification process or want to apply for certification, please complete this online form.
*The information you provide will be strictly confidential and will only be handled by the BES 6001 team under BRE
BES 6001 Case Studies
Browse the latest BES 6001 case studies
BES 6001 Case Study – ACO Technologies
BES 6001 Case Study – Paroc Group
BES 6001 Case Study – William Hare Ltd
BES 6001 Case Study – Marshalls
BES 6001 Case Study – Polyflor Ltd
BES 6001 Case Study – Imerys TC
Certificating Organisations
A range of organisations have been licenced by BRE Global Ltd to provide certification services to BES 6001. A full list can be found on the BES 6001 Certificating Organisations webpage on GreenBook Live.