Environmental data in Agrement Certificates

Introduction

Since 2004 and the decision by the Government’s Sustainable Buildings Task Group to develop a Code for Sustainable Housing, and the work being carried out by the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) the BBA has been carrying out an internal review of its technical procedures to look at the possibility of including a reference to Environmental Information within Agrement Certificates.

Reasons for BBA Environmental Declarations?

The Code for Sustainable Homes will focus on six essential elements for which minimum standards will be set. Most of the elements will affect product manufacturers in some way shape or form. One such element which the BBA believes could be addressed within an Agrément Certificate relates to the use of materials. There is evidence to suggest that this could lead to an increase in minimum requirements for recycled contents within public procurement. Manufacturers would need to consider declaring minimum recycled contents within product technical literature or product labelling.

BBA position

Our review has revealed that many manufacturers, many of whom are already Certificate holders, already employ waste prevention strategies within their production methods that allow them to reduce their use of primary resources and reduce waste. This normally includes (but is not limited to) the use of recovered material and a certain amount of recycled material within their product. Therefore many manufacturers should be confident that they can achieve any minimum contents for their product.

Our Agrément Certificates are well placed within the construction industry and provide data on a products durability, installation and compliance with Building Regulations. To provide such data the BBA must carry out a thorough assessment of the product and gain a very intimate knowledge of the product. This places us in a very good position to extend our Certification process into the environmental field.

The BBA believes that existing and potential Certificate holders would benefit from an additional reference within their Certificates that highlights a particular environmental aspect associated with their product. We are currently working on some test cases to ascertain whether the BBA can introduce a declaration scheme for existing Certificate holders and new applicants. Our objectives will be to present the following information within a Certificate using the same principles employed to confirm end-performance:

  1. Verifiable and accurate, declarations that are not open to misinterpretation.
  2. Confirm declarations as part of ong factory production control.
  3. Provide the Certificate reader with a clear statement of recycled content as a percentage added to the product
  4. A clear definition of the recycled material

We are well on the way to producing a working procedure to allow a declaration of recycled content to be included within a Certificate. We are also reviewing our position within other environmentally orientated activities and ask you to visit this page periodically to remain up to date.

Please contact the BBA if you have any questions on this aspect of our work.