The Carbon Reduction Code for the Built Environment forms part of the Construction Leadership Council’s Construct Zero initiative and is referenced in key documents such as the UK Construction Playbook September 2022, the UKGBC Roadmap, and the UK Government Guidance Note Promoting Net Zero Carbon and Sustainability in Construction September 2022. 

The Code provides a simple way for organisations to demonstrate their commitment to net zero to their clients or supply chain. The Code brings together and aligns sector wide initiatives and facilitates cross-sector collaboration to reduce carbon emissions (CO2eq) related to design, construction, maintenance, operation, and decommissioning of built assets. 

This initiative sits within a wider context and on its own it is not sufficient to deliver a Net Zero UK, but it does enable individual organisations to publicise their annual progress, and thereby collaborate and share best practice on their journey to Net Zero with the intention of accelerating progress across the industry. Additional guidance and structures which may help you to achieve the commitments of the CRCBE include:

1. Infrastructure Carbon Review (2013) and the ICR Seven Years On Report

2. PAS 2080:2023 (available from BSI) and the accompanying guidance document

3. Construction Leadership Council’s CO2nstruct Zero programme and its nine priorities and the related signposting

4. Construction Playbook 2022

5. Supply Chain Sustainability School’s Carbon Reduction Code Resource Mapping Table

6. Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi)

7. CIH Value Toolkit

8. SteelZero and ConcreteZero

9. The Netherlands Carbon Performance Ladder: used in the Netherlands to reward improved carbonperformance through procurement

10. HMG Green Book

11. ICE Carbon Project

12. The Five Client Carbon Commitments

13. RICS Whole life carbon assessment for the built environment. 2nd Edition, Version 3 August 2024

14. Transition Plan Taskforce

15. Built Environment Carbon Database (BECD) - becd.co.uk

16. UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard

We would like to thank the members of the CSIC Achieving Net Zero Cross-Industry Group and others who gave input and helpful suggestions during the development of the Code:

Karen Alford, Environment Agency
Lewis Barlow, Sweco
Andrew Barraclough, Wates Group
Keith Clarke, Active Building Centre and Constructionarium
Stacey Collins, Pinsent Masons LLP
Tim Embley, Costain and i3P
Mark Enzer, Mott MacDonald and Centre for Digital Built Britain
Dee Dee Frawley, Centre for Smart Infrastructure and Construction, University of Cambridge
Chris Fry, Accelar
Janet Greenwood, KPMG
Fergus Harradence, Department Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy
Brittany Harris, Qualis Flow
Chris Hayes, Skanska UK
Charmaine Hughes, Manchester City Council
Dr Kat Ibbotson, Environment Agency
Dr Tercia Jansen Van Vuuren, LOR Centre, University of Cambridge
Dr Heleni Pantelidou, Arup
Dr Annette Pass, Highways England
David Pinder, Green Construction Board
Philip Sayer, Considerate Constructors Scheme
Dr Jennifer Schooling, Centre for Smart Infrastructure and Construction, University of Cambridge
Anusha Shah, Arcadis
Sally Sudworth, Mott MacDonald
Hannah Vickers, ACE
James Wilcox, BE Sustainability
Peter Yates, Constructing West Midlands and National Association of Construction Frameworks