Recognition of the VinylPlus® Product Label in BREEAM®

Specifying PVC construction products holding the VinylPlus® Product Label automatically increases the certification level of building projects aiming at a BREEAM® certification.

Since December 2020, the VinylPlus® Product Label has joined the limited pool of product sustainability certification schemes recognized as Responsible Sourcing Certification Scheme in BREEAM.

Developed and owned by Building Research Establishment (BRE), BREEAM is the world most used independent third party certification of the assessment of the sustainability performance of buildings. More than 2 million buildings in no less than 85 countries are already BREEAM certified; ca. 450 buildings are certified in Belgium. This assessment system evaluates the sustainability of buildings around to 10 topics: energy, health and well-being, innovation, land use, materials, management, pollution, transport, waste and water.

The recognition of the VinylPlus® Product Label in BREEAM will help the specifiers of building products to meet their sustainability targets. Indeed, by specifying PVC construction products holding the VinylPlus® Product Label, the architects, property planners, and property developers aiming at a BREEAM certification, now automatically increases the certification level for their building projects and thus allow the building owners to increase the value of their assets.

Architects about BREEAM

From a webinar on architects’ communication, organized by Redactiebureau Palindroom earlier this year, it appears that architects are interested in sustainability labels. However, it is not always easy to learn about all the various labels that are available and to compare them.

Alternatively, Dirk Driesmans of Q-BUS Architectenbureau, participant to the webinar, said: “(…) ik vind BREEAM (…) een betere indicatie om te weten of je te maken hebt met een duurzaam product”.  “(…) BREEAM geeft aan waarom een bepaald product duurzaam is en hoe het scoort op afzonderlijke duurzaamheidscriteria”.

More information to be found here.

Responsible Sourcing Certification Scheme within BREEAM

For more than 20 years, BRE has been encouraging the specification and procurement of responsible sourced products by awarding credits within its building assessment schemes. BREEAM awards credits for responsible sourced products under the Mat 03 Responsible Sourcing of Materials section. To achieve these credits, applicable specified products must be covered by an Environmental Management System (EMS) or a Responsible Sourcing Certification Scheme (RSCS) recognized by BREEAM. Recognised RSCS are evaluated by BRE and awarded a summary score level in accordance with 14 criteria securing:

• Independence, transparency and impartiality in the standard setting process, the development of scheme schedules and the operation of the responsible sourcing certification scheme;
• A level of traceability that is appropriate to the risks associated with the supply of the assessed product and claims made about the assessed products that are adequately controlled;
• That impacts associated with significant sustainability aspects across the full range of stakeholders affected by the supply of the assessed products and that the scope of requirements is transparent;
• Continuous improvement and transparency in reporting of performance.

For more information on products  with the VinylPlus Product Label: https://productlabel.vinylplus.eu/product-inventory/

For more information on BREEAM: https://www.breeam.com/ and Responsible Sourcing Certification Scheme: https://www.breeam.com/responsible-sourcing-credits/

Article available in Dutch and French on Circubuild.be: here.