Green road construction for Costain

Costain has achieved verification to PAS 2080:2023 Carbon Management in Infrastructure and Built Environment with the British Standards Institution (BSI). BSI’s PAS 2080 is the leading standard for carbon management in infrastructure and applies to new projects or programs of work, as well as the management or retrofit of existing assets and networks. It is the world’s first standard for managing infrastructure carbon.

Following a recent assessment that reviewed Costain’s processes and projects, BSI has now reverified Costain to the new 2023 standard, which has been revised to include additional conditions around procurement, collaboration and measurement.

Costain was recognised for demonstrating a strong awareness of carbon management and having robust processes to reduce carbon, which are utilised across its infrastructure projects. The verification demonstrates Costain’s commitment to the future of sustainable infrastructure, and to managing and reducing carbon emissions from its projects.

Costain supported the production of the updated PAS standard and was part of the Steering Group that developed the original PAS 2080 standard.A submitted case study demonstrated how the HS2 Skanska Costain STRABAG joint venture delivered cost and carbon savings by using an innovative zero trim pile solution, saving 840 tCO2e through a new technique which can be used across the industry.

Geraint Rowland, group environment director at Costain, commented: “Securing verification of PAS 2080 is testament to our delivery of low carbon sustainable infrastructure across all our sectors. We have developed tools and updated our processes to improve our understanding of carbon emissions and inform decision-making as we create a sustainable future.

“PAS2080 has provided us with a framework to drive carbon reduction across the organisation and help our customers, contractors and suppliers adopt low carbon best practice and achieve carbon reduction targets. We’re supporting a decarbonised UK, which will only be achieved through industry-wide collaboration and knowledge sharing, innovation, and the continued delivery of best-in-class sustainable infrastructure.”

Shahm Barhom, group product certification director, BSI, added: “The infrastructure sector has a central role to play in supporting the transition to net zero. Achieving verification to the carbon management standard PAS 2080 underscores Costain’s dedication to advancing sustainable infrastructure and playing its part in the sector’s journey.

“Costain’s commitment to the revised 2023 standard highlights its proactive approach to integrating carbon reduction across all aspects of operations. Costain’s efforts set an exemplary benchmark for the industry and demonstrate the vital role of robust carbon management in building a greener built environment and ultimately accelerating progress towards a sustainable future.”

Last year, Costain built a carbon tracker platform that aims to standardise and improve emissions reporting across all of its projects. The platform makes it easier for Costain’s supply chain partners to accurately record carbon emissions. It is expected that data shared by suppliers will be used to inform future project planning and provide vital insights to reduce Scope 3 emissions, which continue to be a key directive of the PAS 2080 standards.

In addition, Costain obtained the London Stock Exchange’s Green Economy Mark, which highlights listed companies or funds that derive 50% or more of total annual revenues from products and services that contribute to the global green economy.