CBAM: A To-Do List for Offsite at your fingertips
As offsite construction gains momentum, the introduction of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) presents both a challenge and an opportunity. BOS & Ciria delivered a webinar on the 23rd of January and we have now provided a concise to-do list to ensure your offsite manufacturing operations are CBAM-ready. For a deeper dive into the positive implications of CBAM on offsite methodologies, check out our full article.
1. Map Out Your Carbon Footprint
- What to Do: Conduct an internal audit to identify carbon-intensive areas—materials, production processes, and transportation.
- How to Do It: Use Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) tools and collaborate with sustainability consultants to gather accurate data on emissions throughout your supply chain.
2. Assess Your Supply Chain
- What to Do: Evaluate your suppliers and the carbon intensity of their products and practices.
- How to Do It: Develop a supplier questionnaire focusing on emissions data and sustainability certifications. Consider diversifying or switching to suppliers with lower-carbon footprints.
3. Invest in Sustainable Materials
- What to Do: Look for low-carbon alternatives to traditional materials (e.g., green steel, recycled concrete, or certified timber).
- How to Do It: Engage in partnerships with innovative material producers, and incorporate these new options into your product lines to reduce embodied carbon. We have a number of innovative members blazing the way here: Hemspan, Bio-Sip, Incredible Husk, Apply Structures, C-Probe, Modular Express. Find them on our member directory and get in touch!
4. Streamline Your Manufacturing Processes
- What to Do: Reduce energy consumption and switch to renewable energy where possible. Use data and more data to click each process into place. Our Members Data Form Lab can help here!
- How to Do It: Implement energy management systems, upgrade to energy-efficient machinery, and install on-site renewable power (solar panels, wind turbines, etc.).
5. Embrace Digital Carbon Tracking
- What to Do: Adopt digital tools to monitor emissions in real-time.
- How to Do It: Integrate these tools into your design and manufacturing workflows to get a clear view of carbon hotspots and optimise designs for lower emissions.
6. Enhance Your ESG Profile
- What to Do: Align with your clients’ and investors’ increasing focus on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria.
- How to Do It: Publish transparent sustainability reports and set ambitious carbon-reduction targets to showcase your commitment to green construction.
7. Educate and Train Your Team
- What to Do: Foster a company-wide understanding of CBAM and low-carbon best practices.
- How to Do It: Attend our workshops, seminars, or online courses focused on sustainability, new materials, and regulatory compliance.
8. Stay Ahead of Regulatory Changes
- What to Do: Keep up to date with evolving CBAM regulations and requirements.
- How to Do It: Join BOS as a member, attend our events, and #collaborateforimpact.
9. Engage in Industry Collaboration
- What to Do: Work closely with BOS, to share insights and drive collective sustainability efforts.
- How to Do It: Join BOS working groups, attend conferences, and explore joint initiatives to tackle broader carbon challenges in offsite construction.
10. Communicate Your Green Edge
- What to Do: Highlight your sustainability credentials to clients, stakeholders, and the wider market.
- How to Do It: Update marketing materials, project case studies, and proposals to emphasise your low-carbon achievements and CBAM readiness. Share these with BOS to promote to a wider audience!
In Summary
CBAM can become a powerful catalyst for transforming offsite manufacturing into an even more sustainable and competitive sector. By actively auditing emissions, investing in green materials, upgrading processes, and collaborating with key stakeholders, offsite manufacturers can position themselves at the forefront of a low-carbon revolution.