How Albion Stone's BES 6001 Excellent Certification Can Help BREEAM Projects Achieve Higher Ratings

Responsible sourcing is becoming increasingly important in modern construction. For architects, specifiers and contractors working towards BREEAM certification, selecting materials with robust responsible sourcing credentials can make a meaningful contribution to achieving higher ratings. This is where Albion Stone's BES 6001 Excellent certification can help.

What is BES 6001?

BES 6001 is the BRE's Framework Standard for Responsible Sourcing of Construction Products. It provides a comprehensive assessment of how materials are sourced, extracted, manufactured and supplied, considering environmental, social and economic factors throughout the supply chain. The standard evaluates areas such as governance, environmental management, health and safety, supply chain management, ethical practices and sustainable development.

Albion Stone was the first natural stone company to achieve the highest possible BES 6001 rating, Excellent, demonstrating our commitment to responsible sourcing and sustainable production of Portland Stone. Albion Stone remains one of the few natural stone companies worldwide to have achieved this level of certification.

The Link Between BES 6001 and BREEAM

BREEAM is the UK's leading sustainability assessment method for buildings and is widely recognised internationally. Responsible sourcing is a key element within the Materials section of a BREEAM assessment, where credits can be awarded for the specification of responsibly sourced construction products.

BRE specifically recognises BES 6001 as a route to gaining responsible sourcing credits within BREEAM. Products certified to BES 6001 contribute towards the responsible sourcing requirements and can help project teams achieve the available credits under the Materials category.

As BRE explains, higher levels of responsible sourcing certification support the allocation of Responsible Sourcing Certification Scheme points, which are used within the BREEAM calculation methodology to determine how many credits a project can achieve.

Supporting BREEAM Outstanding Projects

For many developments, achieving a BREEAM rating of Excellent is a significant accomplishment. However, the most ambitious projects target the highest possible classification: BREEAM Outstanding. At this level, every available credit becomes increasingly important, and responsible sourcing can play a valuable role in securing the points required to reach the overall threshold.

BREEAM awards credits for the responsible sourcing of construction materials through its Materials category. Products certified under recognised responsible sourcing schemes, such as BES 6001, contribute towards these credits and can help project teams maximise the number of responsible sourcing credits available to them. BRE specifically recognises BES 6001 as a route to gaining responsible sourcing credits within BREEAM assessments.

This is particularly relevant for major public buildings, commercial developments, universities, cultural projects and infrastructure schemes, where project teams are often pursuing the highest sustainability standards. By specifying Portland Stone from Albion Stone, designers can incorporate a natural stone product backed by an independently verified BES 6001 Excellent rating, helping demonstrate responsible sourcing within the project's material palette.

What makes Albion Stone especially valuable is our level of supply chain control. We extract Portland Stone from our own mines and process it in our own factory, providing exceptional traceability from quarry face to finished stone. This transparency aligns closely with the principles of responsible sourcing that BREEAM seeks to encourage and gives project teams confidence when compiling evidence for assessment submissions.

When pursuing a BREEAM Outstanding rating, there is rarely a single material or design decision that secures success on its own. Instead, it is the accumulation of well considered choices across the entire project. Choosing Albion Stone's BES 6001 Excellent certified Portland Stone is one of those choices, contributing towards responsible sourcing credits while also delivering the durability, longevity and timeless appearance for which Portland Stone is renowned.

Why Albion Stone's Certification Matters

Unlike many stone suppliers, Albion Stone controls the entire process from extraction through to processing. Our Portland Stone is mined from our own underground mines on Portland and processed in our own factory, providing complete traceability and accountability throughout the supply chain.

Our BES 6001 Excellent certification is supported by a wider framework of independently audited management systems, including:

• ISO 9001 Quality Management
• ISO 14001 Environmental Management
• ISO 45001 Occupational Health & Safety Management

Together, these standards demonstrate that our operations meet rigorous requirements for quality, environmental responsibility, worker welfare and ethical business practices.

How BES 6001 Portland Stone Supports Sustainable Building Projects

For project teams targeting BREEAM ratings, specifying BES 6001 certified Portland Stone from Albion Stone offers several advantages:

• Supports the achievement of BREEAM responsible sourcing credits.
• Provides independently verified responsible sourcing credentials.
• Demonstrates sustainable procurement practices.
• Reduces supply chain risk through complete traceability.
• Helps meet growing client and planning requirements for sustainable construction materials.

In addition, Portland Stone itself is recognised for its exceptional durability and longevity. When combined with responsible sourcing certification, it provides a powerful option for projects seeking both architectural quality and sustainability performance.

A Natural Choice for Responsible Construction

As sustainability requirements continue to grow across the construction sector, responsible sourcing is no longer simply a desirable extra. It is an increasingly important consideration for clients, designers and contractors alike.

By choosing Portland Stone from Albion Stone, specifiers can be confident they are selecting a material with independently verified responsible sourcing credentials, backed by the highest BES 6001 rating available and a fully traceable supply chain from our own mines to the finished product. This not only supports sustainability objectives but can also contribute positively towards BREEAM assessments, helping project teams achieve their environmental goals with confidence.

Want to learn more about how Albion Stone can support your project's sustainability targets? Contact our team for copies of our certification and further guidance on specifying BES 6001 Excellent Portland Stone.

 

Tags: BES 6001 BREAAM