Bes 6001 V4-0

BRE Environmental and Sustainability Standard
BES 6001: Issue 4.0
Framework Standard for Responsible Sourcing
This BRE Environmental & Sustainability Standard describes the organisational

management, supply chain management and sustainability aspects to be
addressed in the certification and approval of the responsible sourcing of
construction products
Compliance with a BRE Environmental and Sustainability Standard cannot confer immunity from legal
obligations.
This BRE Environmental and Sustainability Standard is the property of BRE Global Ltd. and is made publicly
available for information purposes only. Its use for testing, assessment, certification or approval must be in
accordance with BRE Global Ltd. internal procedures and requires interpretation by BRE Global Ltd. and BRE
experts. Any party wishing to use or reproduce this BRE Environmental and Sustainability Standard to offer
testing, assessment, certification or approval must apply to BRE Global Ltd. for training, assessment and a
licence; a fee will normally be charged. BRE Global Ltd. will not un-reasonably refuse such applications. BRE
Global Ltd. accepts no responsibility for any un-authorised use or distribution by others of this BRE
Environmental and Sustainability Standard and may take legal action to prevent such un-authorised use or
distribution.
© BRE Global Limited 2022

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© BRE Global Limited, 2022

BRE ENVIRONMENTAL & SUSTAINABILITY
Issue: 4.0 STANDARD BES 6001
November 2022 Framework Standard for Responsible Sourcing Page 3 of 42
Contents
1 SCOPE....................................................................................................................................................................6
2 DEFINITIONS..........................................................................................................................................................6
3 PRINCIPLES OF RESPONSIBLE SOURCING .............................................................................................................12
4 REQUIREMENTS ..................................................................................................................................................14
4.1 General .............................................................................................................................................................. 14
4.2 Organisational Management Requirements ..................................................................................................... 15
4.2.1 Responsible Sourcing Policy .......................................................................................................................... 15
4.2.2 Compliance Obligations ................................................................................................................................ 15
4.2.3 Management Systems & Operational Management of Responsible Sourcing ............................................. 16
4.2.4 Procurement and Supplier Management ..................................................................................................... 17
4.3 Supply Chain Management Requirements ........................................................................................................ 19
4.3.1 Quality Management Systems in the Supply Chain ...................................................................................... 20
4.3.2 Environmental Management Systems in the Supply Chain .......................................................................... 21
4.3.3 Health and Safety Management Systems in the Supply Chain ..................................................................... 22
4.4 Requirements Related to the Management of Sustainable Development ........................................................ 23
4.4.1 Greenhouse Gas Emissions ........................................................................................................................... 24
4.4.2 Energy Use .................................................................................................................................................... 25
4.4.3 Resource Use and Product Circularity........................................................................................................... 26
4.4.4 Waste Prevention and Waste Management ................................................................................................. 27
4.4.5 Water Usage or Abstraction.......................................................................................................................... 28
4.4.6 Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) .......................................................................................................................... 29
4.4.7 Ecotoxicity ..................................................................................................................................................... 30
4.4.8 Transport Impacts ......................................................................................................................................... 31
4.4.9 Biodiversity & Site Stewardship .................................................................................................................... 32
4.4.10 Human Rights and Modern Slavery .............................................................................................................. 33
4.4.11 Business Ethics .............................................................................................................................................. 34
4.4.12 Employment and Skills .................................................................................................................................. 35
4.4.13 Local Communities ........................................................................................................................................ 36
5 SCORING METHODOLOGY (NORMATIVE) ............................................................................................................37

5.1 Overview............................................................................................................................................................ 37
5.2 Methodology ..................................................................................................................................................... 37
6 PUBLICATIONS REFERRED TO: .............................................................................................................................40

6.1 Normative references ............................................................................................................................................... 40
6.2 Informative references ............................................................................................................................................. 41
7 AMENDMENT HISTORY .......................................................................................................................................42
© BRE Global Limited 2022

FOREWORD
This Standard provides a framework for the assessment of responsible sourcing and to give a
route to certification of construction products. The key objectives of this standard are:
• To promote responsible sourcing of construction products;
• To give clear guidance on the sustainability aspects that should be addressed;
• To provide confidence that materials and products are being responsibly sourced; and
• To provide a route to obtaining credits within Green Building certification schemes (such
as BREEAM, HQM, LEED, SKA Rating & Cradle to Cradle certified ®).
This Standard has been structured so that compliance can be demonstrated through a
combination of meeting the requirements of other recognised certification schemes,
establishing written policies, setting objectives and targets and engaging with relevant
stakeholders. Industry sectors are encouraged to prepare specific requirements addressing the
framework principles defined in this Standard.
NOTES: Compliance with this BES standard does not of itself confer immunity from legal
obligations. Users of BRE Environmental & Sustainability Standards should ensure that they
possess the latest issue and all amendments.
BRE Global welcomes comments of a technical or editorial nature and these should be
addressed to “the Technical Director” at [email protected].
NOTE: BRE, BRE Global and LPCB are owned by the BRE Trust which is a registered charity.
BRE Global tests, assesses, certificates and lists products and services within the construction,
sustainability and fire and security sectors. For further information on our services please
contact BRE Global, Watford, Herts. WD25 9XX or e-mail to [email protected].
Listed products and services appear in the BRE Global “List of Approved Products and
Services” which may be viewed on our website: www.GreenBookLive.com.

Revision of BRE Environmental & Sustainability Standards
BRE Environmental & Sustainability Standards will be revised by issue of revised editions or
amendments. Details will be posted on our website at www.GreenBookLive.com.
Technical or other changes which affect the requirements for the approval or certification of the
product or service will result in a new issue. Minor or administrative changes (e.g. corrections
of spelling and typographical errors, changes to address and copyright details, the addition of
notes for clarification etc.) may be made as amendments.
The issue number will be given in decimal format with the integer part giving the issue number
and the fractional part giving the number of amendments (e.g. Issue 3.2 indicates that the
document is at Issue 3 with 2 amendments).
Users of BRE Environmental & Sustainability Standards should ensure that they possess the
latest issue and all amendments.

1 SCOPE
This Standard specifies requirements for organisational management, supply chain

management and management of sustainability issues in order to allow organisations to
demonstrate an on-going commitment to the principles of responsible sourcing in relation to the
provision of a specific construction product.
The requirements of this Standard provide a framework against which all construction products
may be assessed (construction products and products with similar or related material supply
chains). The framework comprises a number of criteria setting out the requirements of an
organisation in managing the supply of construction products in accordance with a set of agreed
principles of sustainability, the precise scope of which is determined by stakeholder engagement.
2 DEFINITIONS
In this Standard, the following verbal forms are used:
“shall” indicates a requirement;
“should” indicates a recommendation;
“may” indicates a permission;
“can” indicates a possibility or a capability.
2.1 accreditation
third-party attestation related to a conformity assessment body conveying formal demonstration
of its competence to carry out specific conformity assessment tasks.
[BS EN ISO/IEC 17011:2017]
2.2 accreditation body
authoritative body that performs accreditation (2.1).
NOTE: The authority of an accreditation body is generally derived from government.
[BS EN ISO/IEC 17011:2017]
2.3 benchmark
reference value against which relative performance can be judged.
2.4 biodiversity
the volume of life forms and their degree of variation within a given habitat or ecosystem.
2.5 by-product
A substance or object, resulting from a production process, the primary aim of which is not the
production of that item, may be regarded as not being waste referred to in point (1) of Article 3
but as being a by-product only if the following conditions are met: further use of the substance
or object is certain;

the substance or object can be used directly without any further processing other than normal
industrial practice;
the substance or object is produced as an integral part of a production process; and
further use is lawful, i.e. the substance or object fulfils all relevant product, environmental
and health protection requirements for the specific use and will not lead to overall adverse
environmental or human health impacts.
[Directive 2008/98/EC [4], Article 5]

2.6 chain of custody
The process by which inputs and outputs and associated information are transferred, monitored
and controlled as they move through each step in the relevant supply chain.
[ISO 22095:2020]
2.7 community reuse and recycling
typically a social enterprise charity supporting organisations and communities working to manage
resources sustainably, especially through waste prevention, reuse and recycling.
2.8 commodity
good for which there is a market demand and which is supplied without qualitative differentiation
NOTE Commodity classes relevant to the construction products sector include, but are not
limited to, fossil resources; precious metals; industrial metals; minerals; natural rubber; bio-
mass; and commodity chemicals.
NOTE Some materials are traded via commodity exchanges and may be physically and virtually
bought and sold many times before they become an input to a physical process.
NOTE Some commodity materials may be supplied in bulk via common infrastructure shared by
several supplier organisations.
2.9 constituent material
material component of a product (2.21)
NOTE Water is excluded from the requirements that apply to constituent materials in this
Standard.
2.10 corruption
the abuse of entrusted power for private gain
NOTE Corruption includes practices such as bribery facilitation payments, fraud, extortion,
collusion, and money laundering. It also includes an offer or receipt of any gift, loan, fee, reward,
or other advantage to or from any person as an inducement to do something that is dishonest,
illegal, or a breach of trust in the conduct of the enterprise’s business. This may include cash or
in-kind benefits, such as free goods, gifts, and holidays, or special personal services provided for
the purpose of an improper advantage or that may result in moral pressure to receive such an
advantage.
[Transparency International 2011, Global Reporting Initiative G4 Guidelines]

2.11 due diligence

the process enterprises should carry out to identify, prevent, mitigate and account for how they
address actual and potential adverse impacts related to corporate governance, workers, human
rights, the environment, bribery, and consumers in their own operations, their supply chain and
other business relationships.
[OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Business Conduct: 2018, OECD (2011), OECD
Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises]
2.12 environmental stewardship
the responsible planning and management of natural resources through conservation and
sustainable use including biodiversity considerations.
2.13 freely and publicly available
can be readily obtained in an appropriate format to all stakeholders without payment and without
the need to request permission from the owner.
2.14 impact
positive or negative effect of one thing on another.
2.15 intensity
amount per unit of output or function. A measure of efficiency.
2.16 metric
parameter used for measurement.
2.17 objective
stated aim, or desired outcome, of a policy (2.19) or action.
2.18 organisation
person of group of people that has its own functions with responsibilities, authorities and
relationships to achieve its objectives.
NOTE: The concept of organisation includes but is not limited to sole-trader, company,
corporation, firm, enterprise, authority, partnership, charity or institution, or part or combination
thereof, whether incorporated or not, public or private.
[BS EN ISO 14001:2015]
2.19 policy
formal expression of an organisation’s (2.18) intent and direction with regards to an issue, or set
of issues.
2.20 priority species / habitat
species or habitat that is the subject of an action plan that is endorsed by a local, national or
supra-national governmental body.
2.21 product
output of an organisation (2.18) that can be produced without any transaction taking place

between the organization and the customer.

NOTE: Production of a product is achieved without any transaction necessarily taking place
between provider and customer but can often involve this service element upon its delivery to
the customer.
[EN ISO 9000:2015]
2.22 procedure
specified way to carry out an activity or a process (0).
Note 1 to entry: Procedures can be documented or not.
[EN ISO 9000:2015]
2.23 process
set of interrelated or interacting activities which transforms inputs to deliver an intended result.
NOTE: Whether the “intended result” of a process is called output, product or service depends
on the context of the reference.
NOTE: Inputs to a process are generally the outputs of other processes and outputs of a
process are generally the inputs to other processes.
NOTE: Two or more interrelated and interacting processes in series can also be referred to as a
process.
NOTE: Processes in an organization are generally planned and carried out under controlled
conditions to add value.
NOTE: A process where the conformity of the resulting output cannot be readily or economically
validated is frequently referred to as a “special process”.
[EN ISO 9000:2015]
2.24 raw materials
unprocessed materials that are acquired from nature for subsequent use in the realisation of a
product (2.21).
2.25 recovered material
material derived from an operation, the principal result of which is waste serving a useful
purpose by replacing other materials which would otherwise have been used to fulfil a particular
function.
[Directive 2008/98/EC [4], Article 3, 15]
2.26 recycled material
material derived from a recovery operation in which waste materials are reprocessed into
products, materials or substances whether for the original or other purposes.
2.27 responsible sourcing
management of sustainable development in the provision or procurement of a product (2.21).

[BS 8902:2009]
2.28 risk
effect of uncertainty on objectives (2.17).
NOTE: An effect is a deviation from the expected. It can be positive, negative or both, and can
address, create or result in opportunities and threats.
NOTE: Objectives can have different aspects and categories and can be applied at different
levels.
NOTE: Risk is usually expressed in terms of risk sources, potential events, their consequences
and their likelihood.
NOTE: Risk is often characterised as a combination of the likelihood of something occurring and
the impacts associated with it occurring.
NOTE: Objectives may be social, environmental and/or economic.
[BS ISO 31000:2018]
2.29 significant
threshold level at which meaning is attained.
NOTE: A significant risk (2.28) requires mitigation.
NOTE: An issue is significant if, in the view of senior management and those charged with
governance, it is of such relevance and importance that it could substantively influence the
organisation’s ability to create value over the short, medium and long term.
2.30 small to medium sized enterprise (SME)
An organisation with less than 250 employees and a turnover of less than €50 million or balance
sheet total of less than €43 million.
NOTE: Current exchange rates may be used to estimate equivalent criteria in other currencies.
[European Commission Recommendation 2003/361/EC]
2.31 stakeholder
individuals, groups and/or organisations (2.18) who either affect, or could be affected by, an
organisation’s activities, products (2.21) or services and associated performance.
2.32 supplier
organisation (2.18) that provides a product (2.21).
2.33 supply chain
series of processes or activities involved in the production and distribution of a material or
product through which it passes from the source.
Note 1 to entry: A supply chain is typically composed of a series of different organizations.
[ISO 22095:2020]

2.34 sustainability aspect

element of an organisation's activities or products (2.21) or services that can interact with the
environment and/or socio-economic systems.
NOTE: A significant sustainability aspect may have a meaningful impact on the ability of future
generations to meet their needs.
2.35 sustainability issue
area of influence/impact related to the pursuit of an enduring, balanced approach to economic
activity, environmental responsibility, and social progress.
[adapted from BS 8900:2006, BS 8902:2009]
NOTE Sustainability issues may be interrelated.
2.36 Traceability
ability to trace the history, application, or location of an object.
NOTE: When considering a product (2.21) or a service, traceability can relate to: the origin of
materials and parts; the processing history; the distribution and location of the product or service
after delivery.
[BS ISO 9000:2015]
2.37 waste
substance or object which the holder discards or intends or is required to discard.
2.38 water abstraction
temporary or permanent removal of water from the hydrological cycle.

3 PRINCIPLES OF RESPONSIBLE SOURCING

3.1 General
The purchasing decisions of a single organisation can affect society and the environment well
beyond the immediate impact of its own operations. Responsible sourcing involves the promotion
and support of broader-scale adoption of responsible practices throughout the supply chain. This
can stimulate demand for socially and environmentally preferable products.
There is no comprehensive list of what constitutes ‘responsible practice’ when selecting and
approving suppliers. The principles described below reflect what is considered good practice and
it is logically and ethically consistent that the principles apply equally to the organisation making
these purchasing decisions as well as its suppliers.
The principles reflect current expectations, however other issues may come to be seen as
important in the future and it is expected this Standard will evolve to reflect these changes in
subsequent revisions.
3.2 Ethics
Recognise the need to adopt and apply standards of ethical behaviour appropriate to the purpose
and activities of the organisation.
3.3 Legal compliance

Comply with all applicable laws and regulations.
3.4 Management systems

Have systems in place to operate in a legal, efficient and financially sustainable manner with
continual improvement in the management of quality, health and safety, the environment and
human resources.
3.5 Supply chain management

Communicate and work constructively with the supply chain to deliver sustainable policies and
practices.
3.6 Stakeholder engagement

Identify stakeholders affected by the activities of the organisation and its supply chains and be
responsive to their needs.
3.7 Complaints and prosecutions

Operate with transparency and record and report all complaints and prosecutions and associated
corrective actions.
3.8 Fundamental rights at work

Respect international norms concerning human rights and labour practices and recognise
fundamental rights at work including the abolition of child labour, forced or compulsory labour,
the rights of freedom of association and collective bargaining, and the elimination of
discrimination.

3.9 Health and safety

Operate in a responsible manner to protect employees, contractors and visitors.
3.10 Climate change and energy

Use energy efficiently in the production of materials and products and minimise the emission of
greenhouse gases associated with these processes. Reduce fossil fuel consumption and utilise
renewable sources of energy.
3.11 Resource use

Recognise the need to use all materials in the most appropriate and sustainable manner.
3.12 Site stewardship

Be responsible stewards of sites used by preventing pollution and recognising the importance of
national heritage, ecological value and biodiversity during use and after the end of life of each
site.
3.13 Water
Use water efficiently to minimise demand on potable water supplies, and treat process water and
site run-off effectively to mitigate against pollution risks.
3.14 Waste management

Manage all waste streams effectively by adopting the waste reduction hierarchy and minimise
waste incinerated and disposed of to landfill without energy or material recovery.
3.15 Transport impacts

Recognise the social and environmental impacts of transportation and the need to adopt
appropriate strategies to reduce adverse impacts.
3.16 Employment and skills

Continue to support sustainable communities by providing employment and economic activity
through fair operating practices, and recognise the importance of developing a skilled and
competent workforce.
3.17 Local communities

Liaise effectively with the local community and strive to develop mutual understanding and
respect.
3.18 Financial stability

Manage for long term financial performance. Provide stability and enable long term investment
in social and environmental aspects which underpin the economy.
3.19 Contribution to the built environment

Develop products that improve the quality and sustainability of the built environment.

4 REQUIREMENTS
4.1 General
The requirements of the Standard consist of actions to be taken to demonstrate adoption of the
principles of responsible sourcing as described in Section 3.
The requirements and associated actions have been structured into three sections:
• Organisational Management Requirements

• Supply Chain Management Requirements
• Requirements related to the sustainable manufacture of construction products
Certain requirements, or elements of the requirements, are considered compulsory for

organisations applying for certification against this Standard. This is indicated in the description
of the requirement. Furthermore, additional Performance Ratings are allocated to the voluntary
elements of the requirements. Unless stated otherwise, voluntary elements of the requirements
are sequential.
Where it is stated in the description of the requirement that the voluntary elements are non-
sequential, the points available within these sections can be awarded in isolation once the
compulsory element is achieved.
Throughout this Standard, where the requirements refer to consultation with stakeholders, the
organisation shall consult with its stakeholders, and take appropriate actions as a result of that
consultation, in accordance with the guidance given in BS 8900-1.
Where requirements refer to an accredited body it shall be a member of IAF (International

Accreditation Forum).
Where requirements refer to ‘equivalent’ schemes, please see the BES 6001 Guidance
Document for further information.

4.2 Organisational Management Requirements

4.2.1 Responsible Sourcing Policy
Performance
Description
Rating
The organisation shall have a written policy appropriate to the purpose
and activities of the organisation to address the responsible sourcing
principles described in Section 3 of this standard.
The policy shall be approved by senior management and be integrated

4.2.1.1 into the organisation’s management system(s). The policy shall be
reviewed in line with the management review requirements of the Compulsory
management system(s) and be effectively communicated to employees
and stakeholders.
An independent responsible sourcing policy is not necessary if

principles are covered in existing policies.
4.2.2 Compliance Obligations
Performance
Description
Rating
The organisation shall establish, implement and maintain a
procedure(s) to identify and monitor changes to applicable local,
national and ratified international laws and regulations by which the
4.2.2.1 organisation is bound. Compulsory
The organisation shall ensure that when establishing, implementing and
maintaining its responsible sourcing policy and management systems,
the requirements of the relevant laws and regulations are adhered to.

4.2.3 Management Systems & Operational Management of Responsible Sourcing
Performance
Description
Rating
The organisation shall have in place, as a minimum, a documented
quality, environmental and health and safety management system to
4.2.3.1
implement its responsible sourcing procedures. The management Compulsory
system(s) shall follow the fundamentals of ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and
ISO 45001 and include within its scope the assessed product.
The following criteria are assessed individually on the basis of meeting 4.2.3.1.
The organisation shall demonstrate that its quality management
system(s) to implement its responsible sourcing procedures are
certified to ISO 9001 (or equivalent) by an accredited third-party
certification body (or Conformity Assessment Body).
4.2.3.2
For SMEs, the organisation shall demonstrate that it has a valid +1
Certificate of Factory Production Control which includes in its scope the
assessed product(s) and manufacturing locations; and that its quality
management system follows the fundamentals of ISO 9001 and that it
is actively working towards ISO 9001 certification.
The organisation shall demonstrate that its environmental management
system(s) to implement its responsible sourcing procedures are
certified to ISO 14001, EU Eco-Management and Audit Scheme
(EMAS) or equivalent, by an accredited third-party certification body (or
4.2.3.3 Conformity Assessment Body). +1
For SMEs, the organisation shall demonstrate that its environmental
management system is structured in compliance with BS 8555 (where
audits for phases one to four are completed) or ISO 14005 (where the
highest maturity levels have been reached in phases one to five).
The organisation shall demonstrate that its health and safety
management system(s) to implement its responsible sourcing
4.2.3.4 procedures are certified to ISO 45001 (or equivalent) by an accredited
third-party certification body (or Conformity Assessment Body). +1
For SMEs, the organisation shall demonstrate that its health and safety
management system follows the fundamentals of ISO 45001.

4.2.4 Procurement and Supplier Management
Description Performance
Rating
The organisation shall have in place, appropriate to the purpose and
activities of the organisation and its products, a documented
management system for its purchasing process and for approval of its
suppliers.
The management system shall reference the policy established in
clause 4.2.1 of this Standard and the supplier approval process shall
review supplier commitments to address the responsible sourcing
principles as described in Section 3 of this standard.
AND
The organisation shall maintain a list of approved suppliers of
constituent materials in the assessed product.
AND
4.2.4.1 Where the organisation under assessment acquires constituent Compulsory
materials from any supplier based outside the UK, EU, or from states
that have not declared adherence to the OECD Guidelines for
Multinational Enterprises, the organisation shall undertake an
appropriate risk assessment and demonstrate due diligence in its
monitoring of the supplier’s compliance with the ILO Declaration on
Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.
If any constituent material is sourced from a supplier based outside the
UK/EU/OECD, risk assessments and due diligence shall be provided
for 98% of constituent materials (by mass, volume or cost).
Where the assessed organisation is responsible for the extraction of a
raw material at source, the organisation shall demonstrate traceability
from the source of the raw material to the assessed product through
any subsequent processes of product realisation.

Rating
The organisation shall demonstrate that its procurement processes and
function are in line with the principles for sustainable procurement as
set out in ISO 20400.
4.2.4.2 AND +1
The organisation has a published Code of Conduct for its suppliers.
Adherence with the code shall be an obligation for all suppliers. The
code shall be regularly reviewed and approved by senior management.
The organisation shall demonstrate that it actively engages with its

4.2.4.3 constituent material supply chain, as identified as traceable in Section
4.3 Supply Chain Management Requirements, on the principles of +1
responsible sourcing.
For the constituent material supply chain as identified as traceable in

Section 4.3 Supply Chain Management Requirements, the organisation
4.2.4.4 shall have in place a documented risk assessment and undertake due
diligence in relation to the potential for environmental and social risks. +2
The risk assessment and due diligence shall be reviewed at regular
intervals appropriate to the operations of the organisation.

4.3 Supply Chain Management Requirements

For each of the following sub-sections, constituent materials shall be traceable to the supplier(s)
responsible for:
• The extraction of raw materials; or

• The provision of recycled/recovered materials; or
• The production of by-products; or
• The processing of commodity traded materials
The % performance rating for each sub-section should be based on any ONE of a number of
criteria e.g., volume OR mass OR cost, whichever is most appropriate for the construction
product being assessed. This choice must be clearly defined and justified at assessment.
Whichever metric is used it must be the same basis for all 4.3 clauses in this standard.
Where requirements refer to ‘equivalent’ schemes, please see BES 6001 Guidance Document
(PN 327) for further information.

4.3.1 Quality Management Systems in the Supply Chain
Performance
Description
Rating
A minimum of 70% of the constituent material(s) in the assessed

product(s) shall be traceable to supplier(s) with a quality management
system(s) certified to ISO 9001 (or equivalent) by an accredited third-
party certification body (or Conformity Assessment Body).
4.3.1.1 Compulsory
For SME suppliers, confirmation that a valid Certificate of Factory
Production Control which includes in its scope the constituent material
and manufacturing location(s) is in place; and that its quality
management system follows the fundamentals of ISO 9001, satisfies
the requirement for traceability.
80% of the constituent material(s) in the assessed product(s) shall be

4.3.1.2 traceable to supplier(s) with a certificated quality management system,
+1
or to SME suppliers who satisfy the traceability requirements stated in
4.3.1.1.
4.3.1.3 traceable to supplier(s) with a certificated quality management system,
or to SME suppliers who satisfy the traceability requirements stated in +1
4.3.1.1.

4.3.2 Environmental Management Systems in the Supply Chain
Performance
Description
Rating
70% of constituent material(s) in the assessed product(s) shall be

traceable to supplier(s) with an environmental management system.
The suppliers’ environmental management system shall follow the
fundamentals of ISO 14001 and shall include within its scope key
4.3.2.1 processes of raw material extraction and primary material production, Compulsory
where appropriate to the scope of its operations.
Constituent materials which are recycled materials, recovered
materials or by-products shall be deemed to satisfy this requirement
without further verification.
A minimum of 70% of the constituent material(s) in the assessed

product(s) shall be traceable to supplier(s) with an environmental
management system(s) certified to ISO 14001, EMAS (or equivalent)
by a third-party certification body (or Conformity Assessment Body).
4.3.2.2 +1
For SME suppliers, confirmation that the environmental management
system is structured in compliance with BS 8555 (where audits for
phases one to four are completed) or ISO 14005 (where the highest
maturity levels have been reached in phases one to five) satisfies the
requirement for traceability.

4.3.2.3 traceable to supplier(s) with a certificated environmental management
+1
system, or to SME suppliers who satisfy the traceability requirements
stated in 4.3.2.2.

4.3.2.4 traceable to supplier(s) with a certificated environmental management
+1
system, or to SME suppliers who satisfy the traceability requirements
stated in 4.3.2.2.

4.3.3 Health and Safety Management Systems in the Supply Chain
Rating
4.3.3.1 70% of constituent material(s) in the assessed product(s) shall be

traceable to supplier(s) with a health and safety management system.
The suppliers’ health and safety management system shall be
compliant with local legislation and shall incorporate the recording of:
Compulsory
• Near miss incidents
• Time loss incidents
• Fatal incidents
4.3.3.2 A minimum of 70% of the constituent material(s) in the assessed
product(s) shall be traceable to suppliers with a health and safety
management system certified to ISO 45001 (or equivalent) by a third-
party certification body (or Conformity Assessment Body). +1
For SME suppliers, confirmation that the health and safety
management system follows the fundamentals of ISO 45001 satisfies
the requirement for traceability.
4.3.3.3 80% of the constituent material(s) in the assessed product(s) shall be

traceable to supplier(s) with a certificated health and safety
+1
management system, or to SME suppliers who satisfy the traceability
requirements stated in 4.3.3.2.
4.3.3.4 90% of the constituent material(s) in the assessed product(s) shall be
traceable to supplier(s) with a certificated health and safety
+1
management system, or to SME suppliers who satisfy the traceability
requirements stated in 4.3.3.2.

4.4 Requirements Related to the Management of Sustainable Development

General Requirements
To avoid repetition, the phrases ‘establish a policy, supported by a documented management

system’, ‘report to its stakeholders’ and ‘external verification’ shall be understood to require the
following actions where used in the requirements of clause 4.4.
Establish a policy, supported by a documented management system
The organisation shall have a written policy approved by the organisation’s senior management
to address the requirement. The policy shall be compatible with current industry practice and the
organisation shall establish appropriate metrics for measuring its performance according to the
policy.
The policy shall be reviewed in line with the management review requirements of the
organisation’s management system(s) and be effectively communicated to all employees and
stakeholders.
An independent policy may not be necessary if principles are covered in existing policies e.g. a
sustainability policy.
The organisation shall have objectives and targets approved by the organisation’s senior
management for the requirement, and shall consult with stakeholders, including supply chain
organisations, in setting these objectives and targets. The organisation shall review its
performance against relevant industry benchmarks where available according to the requirement
at appropriate intervals.
Procedural aspects related to the requirement shall be documented and controlled within a
management system.
Report to its stakeholders
The organisation shall report to its stakeholders on its performance against the requirement. The
report shall be freely and publicly available and allow the information contained within it to be
compared on a year-to-year basis. Data that is aggregated and presented as an industry average
is not acceptable as a ‘report to its stakeholder’ unless it is product/product group and company
specific. Data may be reported through a relevant representative organisation (e.g. a Trade
Association) but it shall be product, and company specific to satisfy the requirements.
External verification
The organisation shall provide for external verification that the data and information that it
communicates to stakeholders fulfils its stated purpose and is accurate. This shall be undertaken
by an independent, competent third party who is not involved in the organisation’s BES 6001
certification assessment.

4.4.1 Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Performance
Description
Rating
The organisation shall establish a policy, supported by a documented

management system, for the monitoring and reduction of the intensity
of its greenhouse gas emissions. This aspect may be managed within
the scope of an existing management system.
AND
4.4.1.1 The organisation shall quantify the following: Compulsory
• Scope 1 greenhouse gas emissions associated with their
operations;
and
• Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions associated with their
operations.
The organisation shall have in place a documented process to identify

significant sources of scope 3 emissions associated with their
4.4.1.2 operations
+2
AND
The organisation shall quantify the intensity of its significant scope 3
emissions associated with its operations.
The organisation shall have targets set for the reduction of their
greenhouse gas emissions, relative to output over time. The targets will
4.4.1.3 be in line with climate science to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. +1
Targets are approved by senior management and progress against
targets is reviewed regularly.
The organisation shall report to its stakeholders on their emissions of
greenhouse gases.
If legal requirements related to competition mean that reporting cannot
4.4.1.4 be legally conducted at company level, then the information shall be +1
reported at sector level. This may be via a trade body.
Where sector specific standards for GHG reporting exist, these are
acceptable methods for reporting.
The organisation shall have external verification of their GHG

4.4.1.5 +1
information and data.

4.4.2 Energy Use
Performance
Description
Rating

4.4.2.1 management system, for the monitoring and reduction of the energy
Compulsory
intensity of those operations over which it has financial and/or
operational control.
The organisation shall have targets set for the reduction of energy
4.4.2.2 usage, relative to output over time. Targets are approved by senior +1
management and progress against targets is reviewed regularly.
The organisation shall report to its stakeholders on the intensity of the
4.4.2.3 energy usage of its operations.
+1
Reporting shall include levels of energy usage relative to output over
time, and thereafter reported on an annual basis.
4.4.2.4 The organisation shall have external verification of its energy

+1
information and data.
The organisation shall have developed and implemented an action plan
4.4.2.5 for the continual reduction of use of energy from fossil fuels and for the
+1
increase of use of energy from renewable energy sources within their
operations.

4.4.3 Resource Use and Product Circularity
Performance
Description
Rating

4.4.3.1 management system for the efficient use of constituent materials and
Compulsory
for the assessment of its products’ circularity, as appropriate to the
product(s) under assessment.
The organisation shall demonstrate at least two of the following:

• Actions taken to encourage future resource use at end-of-life of
the assessed product(s)
4.4.3.2 • Actions to extend the lifespan of the assessed product(s) +2
• Declaration of recycled content
• A product development approach to design products for a circular
economy
The following criteria are assessed individually on the basis of meeting 4.4.3.1 and 4.4.3.2.
4.4.3.3 The organisation shall report to stakeholders on its performance

+1
against the above.
4.4.3.4 The organisation shall have external verification of its resource use and
+1
product circularity information and data.

4.4.4 Waste Prevention and Waste Management
Performance
Description
Rating

management system, for the diversion of waste from landfill or
incineration without energy recovery in accordance with the waste
hierarchy.
4.4.4.1 AND Compulsory
The organisation shall provide evidence that all controlled waste arising
from its operations is stored, transported and treated such that risks to
human health and the environment are minimised and that all local
regulatory requirements are fulfilled.
The organisation shall have targets set for the reduction of waste,
4.4.4.2 relative to output over time, and for the diversion of waste from landfill
+1
or incineration without energy recovery. Targets are approved by senior
management and progress against targets is reviewed regularly.
The organisation shall report performance to stakeholders. Reporting

4.4.4.3 shall include levels of waste production relative to output over time and
+1
comparison to industry benchmarks (where available), and thereafter
reported on an annual basis.
4.4.4.4 The organisation shall have external verification of its waste information
+1
and data.

4.4.5 Water Usage or Abstraction
Performance
Description
Rating

management system, for the monitoring and reduction of the intensity
of its water usage or abstraction.
The scope of the policy and management system may exclude:
• seawater;
• water removed and then returned to the same source with no
4.4.5.1 change in water quality. Water lost through evaporation shall be
included in this category; Compulsory
• water stored in holding lakes on site for recirculation; and

• rainwater collected, stored or used as part of the production
process.
AND
The organisation shall quantify the intensity of its water usage or
abstraction.
The organisation shall have targets for the reduction of the intensity of
water usage, relative to output over time. Targets are approved by
senior management and progress against targets is reviewed regularly.
4.4.5.2 +1
OR
The organisation shall have processes in place to implement the use of
sustainable water sources at their manufacturing site(s).
The organisation shall report performance to stakeholders. Reporting

4.4.5.3 shall include the intensity of their water usage or abstraction (as +1
quantified for the compulsory clause) and reported on an annual basis.
4.4.5.4 The organisation shall have external verification of its water information
+1
and data.

4.4.6 Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
Performance
Description
Rating
The organisation shall use life cycle thinking and/or life cycle
assessment (LCA) methods to identify significant environmental
4.4.6.1 aspects and impacts throughout the product lifecycle; and shall have in Compulsory
place a documented approach for continual improvement of life cycle
environmental performance.
The organisation shall provide an independently verified Environmental

Product Declaration(s) (EPD) that conform to the requirements of ISO
4.4.6.2 14025 and either ISO 21930 or EN 15804 for the assessed products. +2
The EPD is valid and publicly available on the EPD Scheme operator’s
website and organisation’s website.

4.4.7 Ecotoxicity
Performance
Description
Rating
Where chemicals are procured for manufacturing the assessed

product, the organisation shall undertake a hazard assessment. The
scope of the assessment shall include all:
• Substances in Annex XIV “Authorisation List" of UK REACH and
4.4.7.1 EU REACH; Compulsory
AND
• Substances on the Candidate List of substances of very high
concern (SVHC) for Authorisation of EU REACH and UK
REACH.

4.4.8 Transport Impacts
Performance
Description
Rating

management system, for the continual reduction of environmental and
social impacts associated with the transport of assessed product(s),
4.4.8.1 goods and people involved in its operations. Compulsory
The procedures for identification of appropriate, significant, direct
environmental and social impacts and mitigation strategies shall be
documented.
The organisation shall have targets for the reduction of environmental

and social impacts associated with the transport of the assessed
4.4.8.2 product(s), goods and people involved in its operations. Targets are +1
approved by senior management and progress against targets is
reviewed regularly.
The organisation shall report on its transport use to stakeholders.

4.4.8.3 Reporting shall include, as a minimum, significant environmental and +1
social impacts of the transport of the assessed product(s) identified by
the organisation, and mitigation strategies.
The organisation shall extend the scope of its transport policy and
procedures to cover the impacts of the transport of constituent
material(s) in the assessed product.
4.4.8.4 +1
Where the assessed organisation is responsible for the constituent
material(s) at the source, the scope and boundaries of the policy shall
cover all transport modes used, from the source of the constituent
material(s) to the assessed product(s).
The organisation shall report on the transport of its constituent

material(s) to stakeholders.
4.4.8.5 +1
Reporting shall include significant environmental and social impacts
identified in section 4.4.8.4 for the transport of its constituent
material(s).

4.4.9 Biodiversity & Site Stewardship
Performance
Description
Rating

4.4.9.1 management system, for managing the risks and potential impacts of Compulsory
the organisation’s activities on biodiversity and ecosystems.
The organisation shall have developed and implemented a biodiversity

4.4.9.2 action plan to protect and enhance the natural environment and
+1
biodiversity. The plan shall include controls to minimise impacts,
remediation measures and actions to increase biodiversity.
4.4.9.3 The organisation shall report to stakeholders on demonstrable actions

+1
taken above.

4.4.10 Human Rights and Modern Slavery
Performance
Description
Rating

management system appropriate to the purpose and scope of the
4.4.10.1 organisation, to respect human rights and protect workers. Compulsory
The policy shall be in accordance with Guiding Principle 16 of the UN
Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
The organisation shall have in place a documented risk assessment

4.4.10.2 and due diligence process to identify and act upon actual and potential +1
human rights risks for workers and other stakeholders.
The organisation shall publish an annual Modern Slavery and Human

4.4.10.3 Trafficking statement setting out the steps taken to prevent modern
slavery in their business and their supply chains. The statement shall +1
demonstrate a commitment to continual improvement.

4.4.11 Business Ethics
Performance
Description
Rating
The organisation shall have in place a documented code of business

ethics or conduct. Adherence with the code shall be an obligation for
all employees of the organisation.
AND
The organisation shall have in place a documented risk assessment
of its internal operations focussed on the avoidance of bribery and
corruption. The risk assessment shall be reviewed regularly, as
4.4.11.1 appropriate to the operations of the organisation. Compulsory
AND
The organisation shall have in place a policy and mechanism for the
confidential reporting, investigation and resolution of suspected cases
of bribery and/or corruption.
The policy shall be communicated widely and protect the whistle-
blower from harassment or victimisation; and the organisation shall
have an accessible grievance process in place.

4.4.12 Employment and Skills
Performance
Description
Rating

management system, for the learning and development of its
employees and carry out regular reviews of its performance.
AND
Responsible Sourcing awareness/training shall be evidenced in all
4.4.12.1 relevant professional and functional training; and the organisation shall
Compulsory
operate an induction programme which refers explicitly to aspects
related to health and safety, human rights, sustainability, corporate
responsibility, and business ethics.
AND
The organisation shall have appropriate & transparent human resource
practices for recruitment, contract, fair wages & working hours.
4.4.12.2 The organisation shall report to stakeholders on its performance

+1
relating to the learning and development of its employees.
4.4.12.3 The organisation shall have external verification of their learning and
+1
development information and data.

4.4.12.4 management system, for enhancing the diversity and inclusiveness of +1
its workforce, and carry out regular reviews of its performance.

4.4.13 Local Communities
Performance
Description
Rating

management system, to identify and consult with local community
stakeholders directly affected by the activities and operations of the
organisation.
AND
4.4.13.1 The organisation shall have written procedures to record all complaints
Compulsory
from local community stakeholders and any subsequent and
associated actions including prosecutions.
AND
The organisation shall carry out regular reviews of its performance in
terms of local community relationships, liaison activities and complaints
incidents.
The organisation shall report annually on local community engagement,
4.4.13.2 liaison activities and complaint incidents to stakeholders on an annual +1
basis.
4.4.13.3 The organisation shall have external verification of its local community
+1
engagement, liaison activities and complaint incidents.

4.4.13.4 management system to promote local sourcing of products and
+1
services; and the use of local staff and expertise where appropriate and
practical.

5 SCORING METHODOLOGY (NORMATIVE)
5.1 Overview
An organisation that meets the requirements of the Standard receives an Overall Assessment
Score and a corresponding Performance Rating as detailed in Table 2.
The organisation must satisfy all compulsory elements and achieve additional levels of
compliance within the (voluntary) requirements of the Standard to achieve a performance rating.
The Overall Assessment Score is recorded on the Certificate.
5.2 Methodology
Assessment against the Standard is divided into three sections:
4.2 Organisational Management Requirements
4.3 Supply Chain Management Requirements
4.4 Requirements related to the management of sustainable development
Each section consists of a number of requirements.
Each requirement may have a number of elements.
Each element is either voluntary (in which case it is assigned a number of ‘points’) or it is
compulsory (in which case it is not assigned points).
Some requirements are non-sequential. Therefore, the voluntary points available within some
sections can be awarded in isolation once the compulsory credit is achieved.
A summary of all available points is shown in Table 1.

Table 1: Performance Ratings
REQUIREMENTS POINTS TOTAL

AVAILABLE POINTS
AVAILABLE
4.2.1 Responsible Sourcing Policy C 0
4.2.2 Compliance Obligations C 0
4.2.3 * Management Systems & C 1 1 1 3
Operational Management of
Responsible Sourcing
4.2.4 * Procurement and Supplier C 1 1 2 4
Management
4.3.1 Quality Management Systems in C 1 1 2

the Supply Chain
4.3.2 Environmental Management C 1 1 1 3
Systems in the Supply Chain
4.3.3 Health and Safety Management C 1 1 1 3
Systems in the Supply Chain
TOTAL 15
4.4.1 * Greenhouse Gas Emissions C 2 1 1 1 5
4.4.2 * Energy Use C 1 1 1 1 4
4.4.3 * Resource Use and Product C 2 1 1 4
Circularity
4.4.4 * Waste Prevention and Waste C 1 1 1 3
Management
4.4.5 * Water Abstraction C 1 1 1 3
4.4.6 Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) C 2 2
4.4.7 Ecotoxicity C 0
4.4.8 * Transport Impacts C 1 1 1 1 4
4.4.9 Biodiversity & Site Stewardship C 1 1 2
4.4.10 * Human Rights and Modern Slavery C 1 1 2
4.4.11 Business Ethics C 0
4.4.12 * Employment and Skills C 1 1 1 3
4.4.13 * Local Communities C 1 1 1 3
TOTAL 35
* Indicates requirements where voluntary points are not sequential and can be scored independently
on the basis of meeting the compulsory requirement.

The Overall Assessment Score depends on:

• The total score achieved in the requirements of sections 4.2 and 4.3 combined; and
• The total score achieved in section 4.4
The overall assessment rating is given by the lowest score achieved in either the combined sections 4.2
& 4.3, or 4.4 as shown in Table 2 (e.g., if an organisation achieves a ‘Very Good’ in 4.2 & 4.3 but only
achieves a ‘Good’ in 4.4, then it will receive an Overall Assessment Score of ‘Good’).
Table 2: Threshold scores required to achieve an Overall Assessment Score in the Standard
Section Pass Good Very Good Excellent
Total score in 4.2. & 4.3 Compulsory 5 7 10
Total score in 4.4 Compulsory 10 20 30

6 PUBLICATIONS REFERRED TO:

This Standard incorporates provisions from other publications. For dated references, subsequent
amendments to, or revisions of, any of these publications apply to this Standard only when
incorporated into it by amendment or revision. For undated references the latest edition of the
publication referred to applies (including amendments).
6.1 Normative references
EN ISO 9000:2015 Quality Management Systems – Fundamentals and

Vocabulary
BS EN ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management Systems – Requirements
BS 8555:2016 Environmental management systems – Guide to the

phased implementation of an environmental management
system including the use of environmental performance
evaluation
BS EN ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management Systems – Requirements with

Guidance for Use
BS EN ISO 14021:2016 Environmental labels and declarations – Self-declared

environmental claims (Type II environmental labelling)
BS EN ISO 14024:2018 Environmental labels and declarations – Type I

environmental labelling – Principles and procedures
BS ISO 14025:2006 Environmental labels and declarations – Type III

environmental declarations – Principles and procedures
BS EN ISO 14064-1:2019 Greenhouse gases — Part 1: Specification with guidance

at the organization level for quantification and reporting of
greenhouse gas emissions and removals
BS EN ISO 14064-3:2019 Greenhouse gases -- Part 3: Specification with guidance

for the validation and verification of greenhouse gas
assertions
BS ISO 21930:2017 Sustainability in building construction – Sustainability in

Buildings and Civil Engineering Works — Core Rules for

Environmental Product Declarations of Construction

Products and Services
BS 8900:2006 Guidance for managing sustainable development
SAI SA8000:2014 Social Accountability International Social Accountability

8000 standard
EN 15804:2012+A2:2019 Sustainability of construction works — Environmental

product declarations — Core rules for the product category
of construction product
ISO 14044:2006 Environmental management - Life cycle assessment -

Requirements and guidelines
ISO 14040:2006 Environmental management - Life cycle assessment -

Principles and framework
ISO 45001:2018 Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems -

Requirements with Guidance for Use
BS EN ISO 50001:2018 Energy Management Systems – Requirements with

Guidance for Use
BS ISO 20400: 2017 Sustainable Procurement – Guidelines
ISO 22095:2020 Chain of Custody - General terminology and models
International Labour Organisation (ILO) Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at

Work
Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Guidelines for Multinational
Enterprises revision 2000
The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights
6.2 Informative references
BS EN ISO/IEC 17011:2017 Conformity assessment. General requirements for accreditation

bodies accrediting conformity assessment bodies
BS ISO 31000:2009 Risk management. Principles and guidelines

European Directive 2008/98/EC [4], Article 3 (in relation to waste and resources)
European Directive 2008/98/EC [4], Article 5 (in relation to by-products) ISO 22095:2020
Chain of Custody – general terminology and models
European Commission Recommendation 2003/361/EC (in relation to SMEs)
Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Sustainability Reporting Guidelines version 4 (general)
Transparency International http://www.transparency.org/ (in relation to business ethics)
BS 13500:2013 Code of practice for delivering effective governance of organizations
BS 10500:2011 Specification for an anti-bribery management system
EU Commission ‘Interpretative Communication on waste and by-products” defines a

‘production residue’
For undated references please refer to the latest published issue.
7 AMENDMENT HISTORY
Revision
Amendment Details Date
No
Issue 3.1 Minor changes to wording in criteria in section 3. Sep 2016
Minor changes to wording in section 3 to include UK & EU

Issue 3.2 Jan 2021
requirements post-Brexit.
Issue 4.0 Major changes to criteria & scoring structure. Nov 2022

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BRE Environmental and Sustainability Standard

BES 6001: Issue 4.0

Framework Standard for Responsible Sourcing

This BRE Environmental & Sustainability Standard describes the organisational

© BRE Global Limited 2022

© BRE Global Limited, 2022

November 2022 Framework Standard for Responsible Sourcing Page 3 of 42

3 PRINCIPLES OF RESPONSIBLE SOURCING .............................................................................................................12

5 SCORING METHODOLOGY (NORMATIVE) ............................................................................................................37

6 PUBLICATIONS REFERRED TO: .............................................................................................................................40

7 AMENDMENT HISTORY .......................................................................................................................................42

© BRE Global Limited 2022

November 2022 Framework Standard for Responsible Sourcing Page 4 of 42

© BRE Global Limited, 2022

November 2022 Framework Standard for Responsible Sourcing Page 5 of 42

Revision of BRE Environmental & Sustainability Standards

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This Standard specifies requirements for organisational management, supply chain

© BRE Global Limited, 2022

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[Directive 2008/98/EC [4], Article 5]

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2.11 due diligence

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between the organization and the customer.

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[European Commission Recommendation 2003/361/EC]

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2.34 sustainability aspect

[BS ISO 9000:2015]

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3 PRINCIPLES OF RESPONSIBLE SOURCING

3.3 Legal compliance

3.4 Management systems

3.5 Supply chain management

3.6 Stakeholder engagement

3.7 Complaints and prosecutions

3.8 Fundamental rights at work

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3.9 Health and safety

3.10 Climate change and energy

3.11 Resource use

3.12 Site stewardship

3.14 Waste management

3.15 Transport impacts

3.16 Employment and skills

3.17 Local communities

3.18 Financial stability

3.19 Contribution to the built environment

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• Organisational Management Requirements