Carbon management for
construction and infrastructure.
The public sector is mandating Carbon Reduction Plans for all suppliers. PAS 2080 is becoming a contractual requirement. Embodied carbon is under growing scrutiny. SBS delivers PPN 006-compliant reporting, PAS 2080 alignment and Scope 3 supply chain measurement built around the real operational challenges of construction and infrastructure businesses.
Construction faces the most demanding carbon reporting requirements of any UK sector
No UK industry faces a more complex combination of mandatory reporting, contractual obligations and client-driven carbon requirements than construction and infrastructure. The government's PPN 006 mandate requires all suppliers with public sector contracts above £5 million to publish a compliant Carbon Reduction Plan. PAS 2080 is becoming embedded in Highways England, Network Rail and local authority procurement. And the drive to measure and reduce embodied carbon is accelerating across the built environment.
SBS works from a GHG Protocol and ISO 14064-1 aligned methodology, adapted to reflect the specific emission sources, project structures and supply chain dynamics of the construction sector. From plant and fleet Scope 1 emissions through to the Scope 3 embodied carbon in purchased materials, we build the complete picture your clients, procurement teams and regulators expect.
Mandatory, voluntary and emerging requirements
Understanding which frameworks apply to your construction business, and when, is the first step to a credible compliance and tender strategy.
PPN 006 — Carbon Reduction Plans
Required for all suppliers to central government and the NHS with contracts above £5 million per annum. The Carbon Reduction Plan must cover Scope 1 and 2 emissions, demonstrate a trajectory to net zero by 2050, and be published publicly on your website.
Build your Carbon Reduction Plan →SECR — Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting
Applies to construction businesses meeting two of three thresholds: 250 employees, £36m turnover, £18m balance sheet. Annual reporting of energy use and Scope 1 and 2 emissions required in company accounts.
SECR compliance support →PAS 2080 — Carbon Management in Infrastructure
UK standard for managing carbon in infrastructure projects. Required by Highways England, Network Rail, HS2 and a growing number of local authority frameworks. Applies across the supply chain, not just principal contractors.
PAS 2080 alignment →GHG Protocol Corporate Standard
The global gold standard for carbon accounting. SBS aligns all footprints to GHG Protocol, covering Scope 1, 2 and 3 across your operations and supply chain. Increasingly referenced in client questionnaires and framework agreements.
Our methodology →SBTi — Science Based Targets
Setting a science-based target demonstrates credible ambition to major clients, investors and framework bodies. The Net Zero Standard for construction requires absolute Scope 1, 2 and 3 reductions aligned to 1.5°C.
Target-setting support →ISO 14064-1 Aligned Reporting
Carbon footprints aligned to ISO 14064-1 are independently verifiable and meet the highest standards expected by public sector procurement bodies. SBS reports are prepared for third-party verification to ISO 14064-3.
Our accreditations →UK SRS / IFRS S1 & S2
UK Sustainability Reporting Standards are expected to apply to large entities from 2026. Large contractors and infrastructure providers should begin preparing now, particularly around climate risk disclosure and Scope 3 supply chain data.
Prepare early →Whole-life embodied carbon disclosure
The UK Green Building Council and RIBA are driving towards mandatory whole-life carbon assessments for all new buildings. Contractors and developers who can demonstrate embodied carbon measurement will have a competitive advantage.
Embodied carbon support →TNFD — Nature-related disclosures
The Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures is gaining traction with major infrastructure clients. Biodiversity net gain requirements in planning are increasing the importance of nature-related reporting alongside carbon.
Nature positive services →The SBS Net-Zero Program, adapted for construction
Every SBS engagement starts from the same GHG Protocol and ISO 14064-1 aligned foundation, then adapts to your sector's specific emission sources, reporting requirements and operational realities.
The SBS Net-Zero Program: your dedicated Sustainability Team
We embed into your business as a retained Sustainability Team, not a one-off report provider. For construction clients, this means ongoing support through tendering cycles, regulatory changes and supply chain reporting requests.
Embodied carbon and supply chain are where it gets complicated
For construction businesses, Scope 3 emissions — particularly those embedded in purchased materials — are both the largest part of the carbon footprint and the hardest to measure. Steel, concrete, timber and aggregates each have complex, internationally sourced supply chains with highly variable carbon intensity depending on origin, manufacturing process and transport distance.
SBS applies ICE database and RICS methodology emission factors to your actual procurement data, producing project-level and organisational Scope 3 figures that stand up to client and regulatory scrutiny.
Built for the full range of construction and infrastructure organisations
From principal contractors and specialist subcontractors to civil engineering businesses and housebuilders. Each has distinct obligations and operating structures. We understand all of them.
Main contractors on public and private sector projects needing PPN 006-compliant Carbon Reduction Plans, embodied carbon reporting and framework-ready carbon credentials.
Volume and SME housebuilders responding to planning embodied carbon requirements, investor ESG due diligence and net-zero building standards.
Highways, rail, utilities and infrastructure contractors under PAS 2080 requirements from Highways England, Network Rail and local authority clients.
M&E, groundworks, structural, fit-out and finishing trades required to provide carbon data to principal contractors as part of supply chain Scope 3 reporting.
Commercial property managers responding to EPC obligations, investor sustainability requirements and operational carbon reporting for managed portfolios.
Manufacturers supplying the construction sector and facing increasing requests for Environmental Product Declarations, embodied carbon data and GHG Protocol reporting.
Questions from construction businesses
Not sure which frameworks apply or where to start? Book a free call for a direct, no-jargon answer specific to your situation.
Book a free call →Win more contracts with a credible Carbon Reduction Plan
Book a free 30-minute call. We will review your PPN 006 position, check your PAS 2080 obligations and outline a clear pathway to a compliant, published Carbon Reduction Plan.
