GRS secures PAS 2080 whole-life carbon certification
Sustainable aggregates group GRS1 has achieved PAS 2080 certification, becoming one of only a handful of materials suppliers to meet the national standard for whole life carbon management in the built environment.
The independent assessment, conducted by BSI, confirms that GRS’s carbon management processes meet the requirements of PAS 2080 as a material supplier, recognising the company’s commitment to reducing emissions across the value chain.
The Group’s business model – based on recovery and reuse of materials, as well as transport efficiency – is key to decarbonisation, especially the supply of lower-carbon aggregates made from demolition waste, mining spoil and industrial by-products.
With no non-conformities, the assessment found that GRS demonstrates continual improvement through review and evolution of its net zero carbon strategy and working practices – particularly around transport fleet and provision of secondary aggregates with product specific Life Cycle Assessments.
Martin Reid, who recently retired from his role as GRS Chief Finance Officer, has led the firm’s sustainable development strategy over the past five years. He said: “Achieving PAS 2080 is a huge achievement and a recognition of our team’s dedication to devising and implementing an effective plan that the business has got behind, evidenced by numerous examples of carbon reduction and resource recovery in every corner of the Group.
“Our mission is to drive end-to-end efficiency in the supply chain, whether that’s through the specification and sourcing of the right materials, finding the optimum way to move them from A to B, or repurposing unwanted materials back into the supply chain to close the loop and make sure nothing is wasted.
“Attaining PAS 2080 certification is also a recognition of our Roadmap to Net Zero, which sets out current actions and long-term solutions for reducing carbon emissions in out supply chain. Alongside circularity, this includes optimising road transport, expanding rail and marine freight, accelerating electrification and scaling-up the use of renewable energy.”
The PAS 2080 assessment also highlights GRS’s carbon calculator – embedded within the firm’s Oracle NetSuite ERP system – which provides project-specific emissions data based on supplier LCA data as well as verified EPDs (Environmental Product Declarations) and real-world transport information. Demonstrating transparent carbon reporting, the bespoke system is already in use on a number of infrastructure projects with some of the GRS’s Tier 1 clients.
“With PAS 2080 certification now secured, we have strengthened our position as a sector leader in the sustainable supply of essential bulk materials,” Martin Reid continued. “This reinforces our long-term goal to achieve zero waste and zero carbon through innovation, collaboration and responsible resource management.”