**London**: Costain Group has earned verification to the PAS 2080:2023 standard for carbon management in infrastructure, showcasing its commitment to sustainability with innovative projects, such as low carbon materials in the A30 dualling and the development of a carbon tracker platform for emissions reporting.
Costain Group has recently achieved verification to the PAS 2080:2023 Carbon Management in Infrastructure and Built Environment standard, a notable accomplishment confirmed by the British Standards Institution (BSI). This certification follows a thorough assessment of Costain’s operational processes and ongoing projects, leading to a successful re-verification under the newly revised 2023 standards, which incorporate additional prerequisites regarding procurement, collaboration, and measurement.
The PAS 2080 standard serves as a benchmark for carbon management within the infrastructure sector, applicable not only to the initiation of new projects but also to the management and retrofitting of existing assets and networks. Costain has been actively involved in the standard’s development and was part of the Steering Group responsible for creating the original PAS 2080 standard, establishing the company as a key player in advancing carbon management practices.
As a leading entity in the industry, Costain has been acknowledged for its comprehensive approach to carbon management, evidenced by strong processes aimed at reducing carbon impacts across its infrastructure projects. Notably, between 2020 and 2024, a joint venture between Costain and Jacobs successfully completed the dualling of the A30 corridor between Chiverton and Carland Cross, Cornwall. This project not only met but also surpassed sustainability objectives by employing low carbon construction materials, such as low temperature asphalt, and incorporating innovative practices like the first-ever trial of 3D-printed concrete headwalls.
Another significant innovation is demonstrated in the HS2 Skanska Costain Strabag joint venture, which showcased the “zero trim pile technique” introduced in 2021. This technique markedly improves efficiency in concrete usage by utilising a new vacuum excavator to extract excess concrete while it remains wet, thus avoiding the need for traditional overpours and subsequent breakouts, achieving substantial cost and carbon savings of 840 tons of CO2 equivalent.
In addition to its carbon management achievements, Costain received recognition from the London Stock Exchange by obtaining its Green Economy Mark in October, an accolade that identifies listed companies deriving at least 50% of their annual revenues from activities contributing to the global green economy.
Furthermore, in September, Costain developed a carbon tracker platform designed to enhance emissions reporting across all its projects. This platform enables supply chain partners to accurately log their carbon emissions in order to inform project planning and target reductions in Scope 3 emissions, an important criterion outlined by PAS 2080. The tracker operates through an interactive online dashboard, capturing data related to construction emissions in real-time, including those associated with materials like concrete and steel, as well as emissions from waste and transportation. The tool is adept at pinpointing “hotspots” of high carbon emissions, thus allowing project managers to monitor progress against established emissions targets and identify opportunities for further carbon reduction.
Commenting on Costain’s PAS 2080 certification, Geraint Rowland, Costain’s group environment director, remarked, “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.”
Shahm Barhom, BSI’s group product certification director, noted that the infrastructure sector holds a pivotal role in the transition to net zero, saying, “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.” He praised Costain’s proactive integration of carbon reduction practices across all operations, asserting that the company sets a benchmark for the industry and emphasises the crucial role of effective carbon management in building a greener built environment.
Source: Noah Wire Services
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