BREEAM

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, a US-originated green building rating system used internationally, certifying projects at Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum levels. Like BREEAM, it rewards product transparency measures such as environmental product declarations and strategies that reduce heat island effects.

An independently verified document that reports the environmental impacts of a product, based on a life cycle assessment carried out to agreed product category rules. For construction products, EPDs are typically produced to EN 15804, giving specifiers comparable data on embodied carbon and other impact categories.

Managing the procurement of materials so that supply chains meet defined environmental, social and ethical standards. In UK construction it is commonly demonstrated through certification to BES 6001 for construction products, or through chain of custody schemes such as FSC and PEFC for timber.

The sum of embodied and operational carbon over the full life cycle of a building or asset, from raw material extraction through use to demolition and disposal. In the UK it is commonly assessed using RICS whole life carbon guidance, which aligns with the framework of EN 15978.