The British Standards Institute (BSI) has just completed Tata Steel’s latest BES 6001 responsible sourcing audit review, and we are proud to confirm that we have maintained a ‘Very Good’ performance level rating for our UK construction products portfolio.

Successful achievement of BES 6001 responsible sourcing certification for all UK construction products including our insulated panels, decking, and structural hollow sections provides customers with continued assurance that our sustainable developments are supported by independent verification, and the materials we use in the manufacture of our construction products have been responsibly sourced.

Tata Steel Europe Head of Environmental Policy and Strategy, Peter Quinn said: “Maintaining the BES 6001 ‘Very Good’ rating is independent acknowledgement of the hard work, time and effort that everyone at Tata Steel has put in to safeguarding our credibility on sustainability. We are delighted that our credentials as a responsible supplier continue to be recognised in this way. It is this determination and dedication that will continue to provide specifiers, contractors and building owners with assurance that we are meeting and even exceeding customer requirements for sustainable manufacturing”.

The BSI was satisfied with all areas audited. The review demonstrated that Tata Steel’s sustainability policies and practices (from supply chain management and traceability of materials to publication of sustainability information, for example through customer Environmental Product Declarations), are managed responsibly and always striving for improvement. The visits to our manufacturing sites highlighted to the BSI the many improvements being made across our sites. Highlights included an exciting update at Llanwern on recent plant enhancements and further capital investment plans for their production lines, and details from Hartlepool 20” pipe mill of their production and environmental optimisations. The BSI auditor identified the Llanwern energy wave programme and Hartlepool yield projects as improving energy and resource use as required by BES 6001.

David Poole, Tata Steel Senior Environmental Management Specialist said “The sheer scale and breadth of improvements carried out by Tata Steel since the last audit is a credit to Tata Steel’s determination, a lot of the improvements having been carried out throughout a well-publicised period of difficulties that the industry has faced. The progress and achievements accomplished are impressive”.

Tata Steel was the first steel manufacturer to achieve certification to the British Research Establishment’s (BRE) BES 6001 Framework Standard for Responsible Sourcing, and has continued to invest in a programme of improvements to ensure the ‘Very Good’ rating is upheld for all its certified portfolio.

Jonathan Clemens, Tata Steel’s Head of Marketing Construction & Infrastructure said: “As the first company with the widest range of products to have achieved BES 6001 certification, we will continue to ensure our construction products meet our customer’s requirements for sustainable development. Having BES 6001 certification provides confidence in the provenance of our products, as well as assurance that they come with independent verification through an internationally recognised standard (BES 6001). This is a major plus for customers who can be confident that their materials are responsibly sourced and manufactured”.

BES 6001 is an internationally recognised standard for responsible sourcing. It is recognised by various sustainability rating schemes for buildings, such as BREEAM. The construction market is increasingly understanding the importance of responsible sourcing, and such certification provides customers with independent evidence of our corporate responsibility whilst helping them increase their credits under such schemes.

To find out more information on responsible sourcing or to speak to one of our experts please contact us, or to join our sustainability network please register here.