Industry views sought on certification mark for sustainable supply chain

The certification mark will be part of a responsible sourcing framework which is now out for consultation. The proposal was drawn up by BRE Global, an independent third party approvals body offering certification of fire, security and sustainability products and services.

The framework will take into account initial production of material, such as mining techniques for minerals and forest harvesting. But it will also consider specific environmental, economic and social impacts in the way the material is handled later on in the supply chain.

This includes secondary manufacture, for example where a product such as steel is turned into sheeting and then used in final production for items such as air-conditioning units.

One area under consideration by BRE Global is for the final manufacturer to have a “chain of custody” package consisting of written testaments about how their product’s material was developed from the initial source, through production of components leading to the final product.

“The certification will provide recognition for those suppliers that embrace genuine sustainability,” said Kristian Steele, principal consultant at BRE Global who is heading development of the programme. “The scheme is to assess the social, economic and environmental impacts of construction products over their whole-life cycle.”

Quality, environmental, health and safety management systems will be considered when assessing products. The social dimension of how the material and products have been handled is very important to ensure workers have not been abused by employers in an effort to cut costs.

An on-line questionnaire for responding to the consultation asks for details on what a firm and its supply chain thinks about sustainability, what records are kept regarding sourcing and any third party verification completed. Energy consumption and waste-to-landfill information is also sought. To take part, visit www.bre.co.uk/responsiblesourcing.

This scheme is open for consultation until 2 May. BRE Global is also finalising a green guide to sourcing which should be out also by the summer.