The Australasian Certification Authority for Reinforcing and Structural Steels (ACRS), an independent, third-party steel certification authority of construction steels, and CARES, an international constructional steel certification authority, have announced that their Sustainable Constructional Steels Certification Scheme (SCS) has been recognised by the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) under its Responsible Products Framework.
The Framework is used by the GBCA to recognise initiatives that a product or manufacturer can comply with for the purposes of contributing to a Green Star certification. As part of the Framework, the SCS Scheme has been recognised as Best Practice across all four of the Framework’s credits. These cover building structure, envelope, systems and finishes.
With the SCS Scheme, steel producers and processors will be able to achieve Best Practice credits towards Green Star Building compliance. They will also be able to achieve compliance by using other Schemes in combination with the SCS Scheme to achieve either ‘Good practice’ or ‘Best practice’ product criteria.
ACRS Executive Director Andrew Wheeler said they look forward to helping the Australian construction industry verify the steel being used as being produced using the “most sustainable practices”.
CARES CEO Lee Brankley said steel is a safety critical component in all major structures and responsible clients also seek the assurance that comes with confirmation the products they specify meet the highest standards in the sector.
“Knowing their products also meet stretching sustainability criteria set out by highly regarded bodies, such as the GBCA, is a further positive endorsement of the choices these clients are making. CARES welcomes this as an additional sign of confidence in the standards set out in the SCS Scheme.”
The SCS Scheme verifies construction steels entering Australia from anywhere in the world meets the highest global environmental, social and ethical standards, using independent certification of ESG criteria and performance indicators.
Australians will now be able to determine the sustainability performance of the steel procured.
Australian and international steel producers are working hard to reduce their emissions – around 7 per cent of global CO2 emissions are generated by the industry. The SCS Scheme will help steel producers and processors measure, monitor and improve the sustainability performance of their products and will strengthen industry efforts already underway to combat greenhouse gas emissions.
Provides a clear public benefit
The Scheme aligns to the UN convened Sustainable Development Goals – ‘The Global Goals’ – and measures and monitors a comprehensive range of criteria through the global supply chain. Raw material and transport data, combined with independently verified production and life cycle emissions data, supports the development of products’ Carbon Footprint and Environmental Product Declarations. This enables accurate data, for example the Global Warming Potential, per tonne of product, to be easily accessed by designers and specifiers. On product bar marking and digital product labelling allow 100% traceability on all verified products from manufacture to site.
Supporting international trade and commerce
The Scheme already certifies 42 producers and suppliers in 12 countries. Products certified under the Scheme are approved inputs for a range of additional international building and infrastructure rating systems, including the UK’s Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM); the US Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) building rating system; the Hong Kong Construction Industry Council (CIC)’s Green Product Certification (GPC) scheme and the Singapore Green Building Council’s Green Building Product Certification (SGBP) Certification Scheme.
Benefits for firms seeking SCS certification
With the introduction of SCS certification, product conformity, traceability, and sustainability certification will all now be available through ACRS. Firms seeking both independent premium product and sustainability certification can now do so through one certification body. The independence and rigour that ACRS is renowned for in Australia and New Zealand will help achieve the desired quality, environmental and socially responsible outcomes across the construction industry.
