Briefing notes
Practical construction briefings, with their sources.
Each note explains one reporting topic, standard or procurement decision, with practical actions and supporting sources. Publication and review dates are shown on every note.
Market intelligence · Updated 9 September 2026
UK Construction EPD Market Map 2026
A market map of 126 manufacturers and suppliers across 17 material categories, with where EPD coverage is strongest and what still needs checking before a declaration can be used.
Briefing notes
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Showing 19 of 19 briefing notes.
BN001 · Carbon reporting
GHG Protocol for construction
Set a clear company boundary before calculating Scopes 1, 2 and 3.
Status: Voluntary accounting framework; reporting duties depend on the applicable regime.
Audience: Contractors, manufacturers, merchants and developers; finance and sustainability leads.
BN001 v1.0 · Published 9 September 2026 · Reviewed 9 September 2026 · 5-minute read
BN002 · Carbon reporting
Scope 3 in construction
Agree the reporting purpose, screen the value chain and improve the evidence that matters most.
Status: Voluntary accounting framework; reporting, procurement or customer requirements may apply.
Audience: Contractors, manufacturers, merchants and reporting leads.
BN002 v1.3 · Published 8 September 2026 · Reviewed 9 September 2026 · 5-minute read
BN003 · Circularity and emerging standards
PAS 2080 and project decisions
Put carbon evidence into decisions while design and procurement choices are still open.
Status: Voluntary specification; a client, contract or framework may require its use or verification.
Audience: Asset owners, infrastructure and building contractors, designers and suppliers.
BN003 v1.3 · Published 8 September 2026 · Reviewed 9 September 2026 · 5-minute read
BN004 · EPDs and embodied carbon
Whole-life carbon assessment
Commission an assessment that informs design choices and remains useful through delivery.
Status: Professional assessment method; planning and contractual requirements vary.
Audience: Developers, asset owners, project managers, designers and contractor commercial teams.
BN004 v1.0 · Published 9 September 2026 · Reviewed 9 September 2026 · 5-minute read
BN005 · EPDs and embodied carbon
Embodied carbon and material decisions
Compare credible options early and keep the evidence current as the project develops.
Status: RICS professional standard; planning and client requirements depend on the project.
Audience: Developers, designers, contractors and product suppliers making material decisions.
BN005 v1.4 · Published 12 August 2026 · Reviewed 9 September 2026 · 5-minute read
BN006 · EPDs and embodied carbon
Environmental Product Declarations
Check that each declaration represents the product and the comparison you intend to make.
Status: Voluntary product declarations; project specifications or customer requirements may require them.
Audience: Buyers checking product evidence and manufacturers preparing to commission a declaration.
BN006 v1.3 · Published 8 September 2026 · Reviewed 9 September 2026 · 5-minute read
BN007 · PPN 006 and procurement
PPN 006 Carbon Reduction Plans
Check who is bidding, what the plan must contain and whether it is still current.
Status: Procurement condition for specified central government contracts; check relevance and proportionality.
Audience: Construction suppliers bidding for central government work, and their bid and reporting teams.
BN007 v1.5 · Published 12 August 2026 · Reviewed 9 September 2026 · 5-minute read
BN008 · Circularity and emerging standards
UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard
Plan for measured performance and the right verified claim from the start.
Status: Voluntary building standard; mandatory requirements apply when seeking conformity.
Audience: Developers, building owners, landlords, occupiers and project delivery teams.
BN008 v1.0 · Published 9 September 2026 · Reviewed 9 September 2026 · 5-minute read
BN009 · Carbon reporting
Science-based targets for construction
Choose the right corporate target route and connect it to an achievable delivery plan.
Status: Voluntary corporate target framework; SBTi validation requirements apply to participants.
Audience: Developers, property owners, contractors and manufacturers; boards and sustainability leads.
BN009 v1.0 · Published 9 September 2026 · Reviewed 9 September 2026 · 5-minute read
BN010 · Data and assurance
UK Sustainability Reporting Standards
Check which requirements apply and prepare the information finance and investors need.
Status: Published voluntary standards; proposed FCA implementation is separate from existing reporting duties.
Audience: Construction boards, finance directors, company secretaries and sustainability leads.
BN010 v1.3 · Published 8 September 2026 · Reviewed 9 September 2026 · 5-minute read
BN011 · Data and assurance
Carbon data you can stand behind
Make reported figures reproducible from their source records, calculation and approval.
Status: Practical reporting guidance; formal assurance requirements depend on the applicable engagement.
Audience: Finance, sustainability, procurement, operations and data teams responsible for reporting.
BN011 v1.3 · Published 8 September 2026 · Reviewed 9 September 2026 · 5-minute read
BN012 · Carbon reporting
SECR and ESOS for construction organisations
Check two separate duties and prepare evidence before the next reporting deadline.
Status: UK legal requirements for qualifying organisations; thresholds and exemptions differ.
Audience: Finance directors, company secretaries, energy managers and sustainability leads.
BN012 v1.0 · Published 9 September 2026 · Reviewed 9 September 2026 · 5-minute read
BN013 · Carbon reporting
CBAM in construction supply chains
Identify affected imports, the responsible entity and the evidence each regime needs.
Status: EU charging regime in force; UK tax starts 1 January 2027. Responsibilities differ.
Audience: Importers, steel, aluminium and cement supply chains, procurement and finance teams.
BN013 v1.3 · Published 8 September 2026 · Reviewed 9 September 2026 · 5-minute read
BN014 · Data and assurance
Responding to sustainability questionnaires
Build a reusable evidence pack that answers customer questions consistently.
Status: Recommended reporting practice; specific requests may be contractual.
Audience: Construction suppliers, merchants and subcontractors; commercial and reporting leads.
BN014 v1.0 · Published 9 September 2026 · Reviewed 9 September 2026 · 5-minute read
BN015 · Data and assurance
Green claims in construction
Make product and company claims that your evidence can support.
Status: Consumer and marketing rules; evidence controls are recommended practice.
Audience: Manufacturers, merchants and contractors; sales, marketing and sustainability teams.
BN015 v1.0 · Published 9 September 2026 · Reviewed 9 September 2026 · 5-minute read
BN016 · Circularity and emerging standards
Construction product data and digital passports
Map product evidence and market requirements before choosing a passport system.
Status: EU legislation with staged application; separate Great Britain and Northern Ireland routes.
Audience: Construction product manufacturers, importers and merchants supplying EU markets.
BN016 v1.0 · Published 9 September 2026 · Reviewed 9 September 2026 · 5-minute read
BN017 · Carbon reporting
Climate transition plans for construction
Connect your emissions target to decisions, budgets and accountable delivery.
Status: Voluntary planning guidance; disclosure and contractual duties depend on scope.
Audience: Construction business directors; finance, operations, procurement and sustainability leads.
BN017 v1.0 · Published 9 September 2026 · Reviewed 9 September 2026 · 5-minute read
BN018 · Circularity and emerging standards
Evidence for circular construction
Track retained materials, reuse and waste outcomes without overstating the benefits.
Status: Recommended practice; waste law, planning and contracts create specific duties.
Audience: Developers, contractors and material suppliers; design, procurement and reporting leads.
BN018 v1.0 · Published 9 September 2026 · Reviewed 9 September 2026 · 5-minute read
BN019 · PPN 006 and procurement
Social value in construction procurement
Turn tender commitments into measurable outcomes that the contract team can deliver.
Status: Central government procurement policy; buyer and contract scope control applicability.
Audience: Contractors and subcontractors; bid, commercial, workforce and contract managers.
BN019 v1.0 · Published 9 September 2026 · Reviewed 9 September 2026 · 5-minute read
Have a requirement, a deadline or a data problem?
Bring the questionnaire, reporting deadline, product list or current process. We will clarify the scope and the most sensible next step.
Scope, deliverables, timing and fee are agreed in writing before work starts.