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    Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany, Europe
    • Case Study
      Built Environment

    The World's First Standard for Managing and Reducing Infrastructure Carbon

    A standard that enhances collaboration and cost savings in the built environment, PAS 2080 can help lower carbon across the whole value chain.

    Testimonial

    “When you've got the whole value chain operating in the same way, that's where the magic happens.” 

    David Riley Anglian Water
    Tunneller worker installing fixture in underground subway metro construction site

    Reducing Infrastructure Carbon Emissions: The Development of PAS 2080

    The scale of infrastructure carbon emissions needed urgent attention, demanding a fast-tracked standard that could also be comprehensive in scope.

    In the light of a government review that attributed more than 50% of the UK's carbon emissions to infrastructure, a consistent framework that could encompass the whole value chain was identified as essential to the industry's sustainability goals.

    The Challenge

    Tackling the complexity of infrastructure carbon

    The infrastructure industry faced immense challenges to meet the goals of the 2008 Climate Change Act, which mandated a 75% reduction in emissions across project lifecycles.

    A new standard was needed to establish a framework spanning the entire value chain. It sought to lower both carbon and costs through smarter design, build processes, and facility usage.

    Consistent and transparent carbon measurement at pivotal delivery stages was also vital. The standard's all-encompassing approach and stringent reporting requirements aimed to systematically cut emissions from initial planning through a project's usage lifetime.

    The Solution

    An emphasis on innovation and collaboration

    PAS 2080 provides a framework for reducing carbon emissions and costs across the entire infrastructure lifecycle.

    Developed through collaboration between industry experts, it establishes targets, baselines, metrics and reporting procedures to quantifiably manage carbon throughout design, construction and use.

    User verification and guidance helped ensure consistent application of carbon management principles across the value chain.

    Benefits of the PAS

    PAS 2080 is the world's first standard for reducing and managing carbon in the built environment.

    Business people walking through office gardens
    • Arrow pointing down

      Contribute to significant reductions in whole life carbon emissions.

    • Line representation of a house

      Consistency across the whole value chain through harmonized standards.

    • Plus symbol

      Give stakeholders clarity and confidence on targets and metrics.

    • Tick symbol

      Closer collaboration that enables innovation and efficiency to thrive.

    • Arrow pointing down

      Reduce material use that helps projects cut costs.

    • Line representation of a house

      Demonstrate market-leading sustainability compliance during tenders.

    Results

    • 61%

      reduction in capital carbon and 22% fall in capital expenditure for Anglian water.

    • £7 million

      27% fall in structural steel use for HS2, delivering cost saving of £7 million.

    Testimonial

    “PAS 2080 is really important for us because it increases our operational efficiency and allows us to collaborate well within disciplines.” 

    Conor McCone Skanska
    Builders laying pipework on housing building site
    Why BSI

    A global standards leader

    BSI experts collaborate across industries to develop standards supporting sustainable infrastructure. Through consensus-based standards, we enable businesses and markets to future-proof operations, driving growth while reducing environmental impact.

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    Setting global standards for net zero delivery

    Collaborate on creating global standards for net zero delivery in infrastructure, effectively managing carbon while reducing emissions and costs.

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