The first six organisations to sign-up to the Carbon Reduction Code for the Built Environment have been announced. 

The code, which is hosted by the Centre for Smart Infrastructure and Construction (CSIC) at the University of Cambridge, is a commitment scheme designed to facilitate action and collaboration in the built environment towards reducing carbon emissions related to design, construction, maintenance, operation and decommissioning of built assets. 

The early adopters are Skanska UK, HS2, the National Association of Construction Frameworks (NACF), City Building Engineering Services (CBES), Interclass and SCF Construct. 

The code was drafted by the CSIC achieving net zero cross-industry working group in 2020 and first issued in 2021, and forms part of the Construction Leadership Council’s Construct Zero initiative.

Andy Mitchell, chief executive officer of Tideway and co-chair of the Construction Leadership Council, said: “Construct Zero welcomes the announcement of the first organisations to sign up to the Carbon Reduction Code for the Built Environment. By setting out actions in their different approaches to reducing carbon reduction, this is a further example of how companies across the construction sector are leading the charge to net zero. The Construct Zero Team will be working closely with CSIC as this code develops.”

Adam Crossley, director of environment, Skanska UK, said: “Although it has been positive to see organisations across our sector increasingly make net-zero commitments, there isn’t enough consistency and also there’s a tendency to overemphasise the net-zero target date rather than demonstrating what action is being taken now.  The Carbon Code helps to address these two issues and that’s why Skanska UK is a big supporter.” 

Beatriz Garcia Navarro, HS2’s carbon specialist, said: “We are completely committed to reducing our carbon emissions as we design, build and operate HS2, helping the UK’s fight against climate change. The railway will be zero carbon from day one of operation and we’re working towards our target to be net zero carbon as a project from 2035. By joining the code, we are publicly reinforcing these commitments and we will continue to work collaboratively with our partners and supply chain to reduce carbon emissions across the construction sector.” 

Dee Dee Frawley, CSIC programme manager, said: “We are delighted to welcome these six early adopters of the Carbon Reduction Code for the Built Environment who have all complied with the process and forged the way for other organisations to follow. There are a number of organisations already in the pipeline who will sign-up to the code in the coming months, but we are particularly grateful to these six early adopters who have worked closely with us to test, trial and prove the compliance process for the code. 

“This initial group comprise both large corporate organisations and SMEs, which demonstrates that the code applies across the entire spectrum of the built environment and across both the private and public sector organisations. Carbon reduction is more likely to happen when all organisations within a value chain are committed to reducing their footprint and saving costs and the code provides a framework for organisations to make a public commitment to and report on progress towards achieving net zero.”