Innovation Showcase | Bauer Technologies gains sustainable sourcing accreditation

Last October Bauer Technologies obtained BES 6001 certification status as evidence that it ensures the construction products it uses are made with sustainably sourced materials.

The process began in early 2020 when the company looked at the BES 6001 standard and its management team decided that BES 6001 compliance would greatly help the company’s sustainability efforts.

Bauer set up a working group of four employees from different sections of the business, and they examined each section of the BES 6001 standard. The standard covers a multitude of topics from suppliers’ business ethics to their water abstraction and usage. It was important to record data to accurately identify the current position and make changes where necessary. It became obvious that complying with
BES 6001 would be a challenge because of the difficulties of checking suppliers’ credentials. The group made a number of changes and introduced new policies and procedures for scrutinising and auditing Bauer Technologies’ supply chain and changing its materials procurement processes.

Taking the plunge

The company then initiated the application process for the BES 6001 Framework Standard for Responsible Sourcing.

For the stage 1 assessment it once again examined each of the categories set out in the standard to ensure it fully understood what was expected. That process would have highlighted any items which could have been missed by the working group managed by Bauer Technologies sustainability
champion, Nancy Austin and was completed in July 2021. No non-conformities with the standard were identified and the data was independently verified. The stage two assessment was then carried out over five days in August 2021. This was an intense evidence gathering process.

Complying with the requirements of each category, required evidence. For example, with greenhouse gas emissions, Bauer had to quantify how much carbon its operations produced and how much was removed. The auditors’ final reports confirmed that Bauer Technologies had achieved an “excellent” rating, scoring maximum points for complying with the standard.

BES 6001 Certification Achieved

Bauer Technologies claims to be the only geotechnical contractor accredited with the BES 6001 sustainability certification.

Helping the sector

This certification will enable Bauer Technologies’ clients’ to secure additional Breeam credits for their projects.

Breeam is the world’s first and leading assessment method for sustainable buildings, its main output being a Breeam rating. The more credits a project has, the better the Breeam rating.

Listing Bauer Technologies’ BES 6001 certification on BRE Global’s Green Book Live directory of approved environmental products and services also means that clients can ascertain the company’s sustainability credentials quickly, easily, and confidently.

Bauer Technologies has long been sourcing materials in a sustainable manner, although demonstrating its approach to sustainable materials sourcing it has been a difficult and lengthy process.

Achieving BES 6001 certification and obtaining a Green Book Live listing gives Bauer Technologies’ clients confidence in its commitment to minimising the sector’s long term environmental impact.