Building products manufacturer Grayson has become one of the first businesses in the UK construction sector to achieve ISO 14068 Carbon Neutrality Certification, marking a significant milestone in the company’s long-term sustainability strategy.
The internationally recognised standard replaces PAS 2060 with a more rigorous framework requiring organisations to measure, reduce and offset carbon emissions using independently verified methodologies.
The achievement comes as the construction industry faces increasing pressure to reduce its environmental impact.
Grayson- sustainability certification
According to the UK Green Building Council, the built environment accounts for around a quarter of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions, with the sector needing to accelerate decarbonisation to meet national net zero targets.
Investment supports lower-carbon construction
Grayson said the certification follows several years of investment in initiatives designed to reduce operational emissions, including solar energy generation, battery storage, lower-carbon logistics and waste reduction programmes.
The manufacturer has also continued to develop products aimed at helping contractors reduce waste and improve sustainability on site.
One example is the company’s reusable G Board, manufactured from recycled aluminium as an alternative to traditional timber mortar boards. Designed for long-term use and fully recyclable at the end of its life, the product is intended to reduce raw material consumption and minimise construction waste.
With an estimated 90,000 bricklayers working across the UK and the construction industry generating more than 60 million tonnes of non-hazardous waste in England each year, Grayson said wider adoption of reusable products could help reduce timber waste sent to landfill while supporting a more circular approach to construction.
Certification builds on wider sustainability programme
The ISO 14068 certification follows earlier environmental milestones for the business, including achieving Zero Waste to Landfill status and PAS 2060 carbon neutrality certification.
Tony Higson, Managing Director at Grayson, said: “Achieving ISO 14068 is a hugely significant milestone for Grayson and reflects years of investment, innovation and continuous improvement across every part of our business.
“As one of the first companies in our sector to achieve this internationally recognised standard, we’re incredibly proud to be leading the way once again.
“ISO 14068 raises the bar significantly compared with previous carbon neutrality standards. For us, sustainability isn’t about making claims, it’s about demonstrating measurable progress that has been independently verified.
“The construction industry is changing rapidly, with sustainability becoming an increasingly important consideration for contractors, developers and clients alike. Achieving ISO 14068 gives our customers confidence that our environmental claims have been independently verified against one of the world’s most robust carbon neutrality standards, while reinforcing our commitment to continuing to reduce our environmental impact in the years ahead.”
Independent verification raises environmental benchmark
David Wilshin, Associate Director of Carbon & Procurement at Auditel, which supported Grayson through the certification process, said: “ISO 14068 sets a considerably higher bar than the carbon neutrality standards that came before it.
“It requires organisations to measure the emissions accurately, demonstrate genuine reductions and offset only what remains, all backed by independently verified evidence rather than self-declared claims.
“Grayson approached this process with real rigour and a clear commitment to doing things properly. To be among the first construction suppliers in the UK to achieve the standard reflects the significant work already embedded across the business.
“It is a genuine achievement, and one that gives Grayson’s customers well-founded confidence in the credibility of its environmental claims.”
