Multi-award-winning manufacturer of building products, Grayson, has become one of the first businesses in the UK construction sector to achieve ISO 14068 Carbon Neutrality Certification, marking the company’s latest milestone in its long-term sustainability journey.
ISO 14068 replaces PAS 2060 with a far more rigorous international framework requiring organisations to measure, reduce and offset emissions using independently verified methodologies. When third-party certified by a body like UKAS, ISO14080 becomes the pinnacle of carbon neutrality.
Grayson’s achievement comes at a critical time for the construction industry. According to the UK Green Building Council, the built environment is responsible for around a quarter of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions and is currently falling behind the pace of decarbonisation needed to meet the UK’s net zero ambitions. Against this backdrop, independently verified standards such as ISO 14068 are becoming increasingly important for businesses looking to demonstrate measurable environmental progress and provide customers with confidence in their sustainability credentials.
Achieving the certification follows years of investment by Grayson, including a strong focus on reducing waste and increasing renewable energy generation. Grayson has invested in solar energy, battery storage, lower-carbon logistics and a range of initiatives designed to reduce its environmental
impact. The business has also continued to develop products that help contractors improve sustainability on site.
The company’s sustainability strategy extends beyond its own operations into product innovation. One example is Grayson’s reusable G Board, manufactured from recycled aluminium to replace traditional timber mortar boards. Designed to last for many years – potentially an entire bricklayer’s career when properly maintained – the G Board helps reduce raw material consumption, minimises replacement products and is fully recyclable at the end of its life.
With around 90,000 bricklayers working across the UK, even small changes in the products used on site have the potential to make a significant environmental difference. The construction sector generates more than 60 million tonnes of non-hazardous waste in England each year, highlighting the importance of reducing waste at source. By replacing traditional timber mortar boards with a durable, fully recyclable alternative, widespread adoption of the G Board could help prevent hundreds of tonnes of contaminated timber waste from being sent to landfill every year while supporting a more circular approach to construction.
The certification builds on a series of sustainability achievements for Grayson, including becoming the first business in its sector to achieve Zero Waste to Landfill status and one of the first construction suppliers to achieve PAS 2060 carbon neutrality certification. ISO 14068 represents the next step in the company’s commitment to continually raising environmental standards while supporting customers with more sustainable construction solutions.
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.”
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.”
