The Construction Industry Council (CIC) has announced a major step forward in embedding sustainability across the built environment, with formal approval from the British Standards Institution (BSI) to develop a new British Standard on sustainability competence.
Approved by the BSI Planning and Approval Team on 22 October 2025, the standard will be based on The Edge and CIC’s “Competence Framework for Sustainability in the Built Environment”, which was first published in February 2025. This landmark initiative aims to provide clear, consistent, and measurable criteria for assessing sustainability competence across all disciplines within the construction and digital construction sectors.
Setting the foundation for sustainability in construction
The forthcoming British Standard will act as a core reference point for organisations developing competence frameworks for sustainability in the built environment. It will help define the appropriate scope and level of sustainability competence required for specific roles, functions, and activities, from design and engineering to construction management, digital delivery, and facilities operations.
In a sector that contributes nearly 40% of global carbon emissions, embedding sustainability competence into professional standards is both timely and essential. By ensuring that sustainability principles are integrated into daily practice, the new standard aims to accelerate progress towards net-zero construction, low-carbon design, and resilient infrastructure development.
Responding to global sustainability goals
This development aligns with global frameworks such as the Paris Agreement (2015) and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (2022), both of which emphasise urgent action to tackle climate change and biodiversity loss. The built environment plays a pivotal role in this transition, influencing energy consumption, resource efficiency, and ecological impact at every stage of a building’s life cycle.
The new British Standard on sustainability competence in the built environment seeks to ensure that every professional involved in planning, designing, constructing, and managing the built environment can demonstrate the knowledge and skills required to deliver sustainable outcomes. This approach will help build confidence across society that the sector is fully equipped to meet the UK’s sustainability and net-zero carbon commitments.
Leadership and next steps
Simon Foxell, Policy Coordinator at The Edge, has been appointed as Convenor of the Drafting Panel leading this work. He emphasised the significance of this milestone: “The approval of this proposal marks a pivotal moment for the built environment sector. Establishing a British Standard for sustainability competence will provide a clear, consistent framework that supports professionals in delivering projects aligned with the UK’s net zero and resilience goals. This work is about embedding sustainability at the heart of practice, ensuring that competence is measurable, transparent, and future-focused.”
The Drafting Panel is now being established within the BSI system, and an editor will be appointed shortly to begin work on the first draft.
Call for industry expertise
The CIC and The Edge are inviting professionals from across the construction, engineering, architecture, and digital construction sectors to contribute their expertise to this important initiative. Collaboration from a wide range of disciplines will ensure that the standard reflects the realities of a rapidly evolving industry and supports the integration of sustainability across all aspects of the built environment.
Industry experts interested in joining the process are encouraged to send volunteer proposals to:
Simon Foxell: sf@architectspractice.com
Tom Stack: Tom.Stack@bsigroup.com
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