Construction Stored Carbon Certification Protocol
Summary
This protocol provides a comprehensive framework for certifying the Net Carbon Removal Benefit (NCRB) of biobased construction projects. Developed by the Climate Cleanup Foundation, it aligns with the EU certification framework for carbon removals and aims to monetise carbon storage within the construction sector. The document outlines eligibility, measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) processes to ensure rigorous standards for quantifying carbon removed from the atmosphere and stored in biobased building materials.
Key Takeaways
1. Eligibility Criteria: Projects must use sustainably sourced biobased materials with a first-use lifespan of at least 35 years and meet additionality and sustainability benchmarks.
2. Certification Steps: Certification is divided into stages—‘in design’, ‘under construction’, and ‘as built’—with clear requirements for documentation, validation, and verification at each phase.
3. Quantification Framework: The protocol standardises methods to calculate NCRB using life cycle assessment (LCA) data, including environmental product declarations (EPDs).
How It Can Help You
This protocol is an essential tool for developers, project operators, and policymakers who are:
• Interested in certifying carbon storage benefits in biobased construction projects.
• Seeking to align construction practices with sustainability goals and carbon removal monetisation frameworks.
• Exploring methodologies for robust and transparent carbon removal certification to attract green finance.
Key Learnings
1. Quantification of Carbon Benefits: The protocol ensures precise calculation of carbon removed and stored using standardised formulas and public tools.
2. Sustainability Integration: Certification promotes long-term storage of biogenic carbon while addressing co-benefits like biodiversity and circular economy principles.
3. Investment and Policy Alignment: Enables a transition to biobased materials by providing a monetisation pathway for carbon storage, encouraging market uptake and green finance.
