BAM sets ambitious green targets
6 October 2022
Civil engineer BAM Nuttall’s UK & Ireland businesses have set a target to become carbon net zero in their direct operations by 2026.
It is ruling out counting electricity from green energy tariffs towards its net zero emissions and builds on its Dutch parent Royal BAM Group’s target to reduce direct emissions intensity by 80 per cent by 2026 from 2015 levels.
The business says it is not relying heavily on carbon offsets which, it believes, can disguise more substantial progress in how a company is acting.
BAM’s UK & Ireland net zero commitment encompasses not just direct scope 1 and scope 2 emissions (associated with fuels and energy use), but also selected scope 3 emissions. It believes this goes further than most net zero carbon targets in the sector.
The organisation’s scope 3 emissions include water consumption, staff transport (across road, rail and air), emissions arising from using hotels, emissions from third party fuel and energy use and all well-to-tank (upstream) emissions associated with scope 1 and scope 2 emissions. The company says it has significant influence over all these emissions sources.
BAM says that any remaining emissions from 2026 will be offset using high quality nature-based solutions, such as re-forestation or carbon capture technologies.
John Wilkinson, chief operating officer of BAM UK & Ireland, said: “Net zero carbon is the objective we are all seeking because the construction sector still accounts for 39 per cent of all global emissions. We have a serious job on our hands to get that down and to do so fast.
“That’s why we have chosen to accelerate our progress – and we are not fooled that we will be alone. The whole industry needs to challenge itself, work together, and assist its clients and supply chain to make faster progress, too.”
He added that “The other red herring is offsetting. We cannot rely on planting trees elsewhere in the world to cover up our own emissions. Although these have a role to play in the short term, we must drive these down ourselves and face up to our responsibilities.”
With regard to scope 2 emissions arising from electricity use, BAM has chosen to use location-based emissions (the true emissions of the energy used at the plug) as part of its direct emissions inventory.
The vast majority of the company’s direct energy procurement already uses REGO-backed energy contracts (Renewable Energy Guarantee of Origin certificates issued by Ofgem on behalf of the UK government). Whilst it could use these to claim that it is zero carbon, BAM believes that it should seek to reduce the real emissions from grid electricity usage.
BAM’s carbon reduction lead, Sarah Jolliffe, added: “We have already reduced our emissions intensity by 20 pre cent this year compared to the same period last year, mitigating the release of 7 kilotons of carbon.
“We have worked with the Carbon Trust on measuring scope 3 emissions and our FM business has helped pioneer Scope 3 measurement in the facilities management sector working with the SFMI (Sustainable FM Index). These kinds of collaborations are crucial as we explore more ways to work with our supply chain and clients to decarbonise the built environment."
BAM’s track record on emissions includes reducing its direct emissions intensity by just over 40 per cent since 2015. Its Science Based Target requires a 50 per cent reduction by 2030 but it expects to meet this seven years early.
Measures taken by the organisation to remove and reduce the impact of carbon include: using HVO to replace fossil fuels, adopting electric vehicles and using lower carbon concrete.
