A BREEAM certification is one of the most established ways to measure how “green” and sustainable a building really is. BREEAM means Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method.
The science-based assessment system checks how environmentally friendly a building is, starting with the design and construction right through to how it performs once people are using it.
As a waste management company working on certified sites, we support businesses to achieve their desired BREEAM rating with smarter waste disposal and recycling systems, long-term resource use and enhanced sustainability reporting.
Key takeaways in this article
- BREEAM stands for Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method
- BREEAM is a UK-developed sustainability assessment system for buildings. It uses a framework that measures environmental performance across a building’s lifecycle
- BREEAM certification helps improve value, sustainability and compliance for businesses, especially those working in property or construction sectors
- A BREEAM rating ranges from Pass to Outstanding based on scored performance
- BREEAM assessment covers nine categories, including energy, materials, water and waste
- Waste management and BREEAM work together to drive better recycling, recovery and resource efficiency outcomes
Contents
- What does BREEAM stand for?
- What is BREEAM and how does it work?
- Who uses BREEAM Certification?
- Why BREEAM matters in real projects
- What is a BREEAM rating?
- The 9 BREEAM assessment categories
- How you get a BREEAM Certification
What Does BREEAM Stand For?
BREEAM stands for the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method.
BREEAM ratings are a structured way to measure environmental performance in buildings. First developed in the UK, BREEAM assessments are now used internationally across all kinds of construction and property developments.
A BREEAM certification ensures that the environmental impact of buildings is properly measured so that construction and property companies cannot simply claim their project is sustainable.
What Is BREEAM and How Does It Work?
BREEAM is essentially a scoring system for buildings.
A BREEAM assessment looks at everything from energy use and water efficiency to transport access, and how waste is managed. It even includes site biodiversity.
Buildings are scored based on specific criteria and then receive a BREEAM rating. This rating is used across:
- New builds during the design and construction stage
- Refurbishment and fit-out projects
- Existing buildings in operation
So whether you’re starting fresh or upgrading an old property, you’re subject to a BREEAM assessment.
Who Uses BREEAM Certification?
Real-world BREEAM projects most commonly pertain to:
- Developers trying to increase asset value
- Architects satisfying sustainability goals
- Investors looking for lower long-term risk
- Public sector teams managing procurement standards
- Facility and waste managers supporting operational performance
When it comes to waste management, early planning around waste streams can significantly improve a project’s final BREEAM score.
Why BREEAM Matters in Real Projects?
BREEAM is about more than checking an environmental box. Having strong sustainability credentials can directly influence the value of a building. A property certified under BREEAM signals that it has been independently verified against rigorous, evidence-based benchmarks.
A strong BREEAM certification can:
- Improve building value and rental demand
- Reduce operating costs over time
- Support ESG and sustainability reporting
- Make projects easier to finance and sell
BREEAM ratings are increasingly becoming an industry standard rather than a bonus feature. Not only does it have a positive financial impact but it also pushes teams to think more carefully about construction waste, recycling rates and maximising material use. This is why waste management plays a pivotal role in achieving an outstanding BREEAM rating.
What Is a BREEAM Rating?
Once a project enters the BREEAM assessment process, every design decision and construction choice is turned into a numerical score. These scores are defined as percentages with each one relating to a BREEAM rating.
Here’s how a BREEAM rating is assigned according to the overall score:
- 30% + = Pass
- 45%+ = Good
- 55%+ = Very Good
- 70%+ = Excellent
- 85%+ = Outstanding
Anything below 30% is unclassified and will not receive a BREEAM certification.
Most commercial BREEAM projects aim for “very good” or “excellent” as a minimum, especially where investors or corporate tenants are involved. “Outstanding” is rare and often reserved for developments where sustainability is the sole or primary purpose of the project.
The 9 BREEAM Assessment Categories
The BREEAM assessment categories cover nine distinct performance areas, each with its own credits and weighting. For example, categories like Energy, and Health and Wellbeing carry heavier weights because of their direct impact on operational costs.
The nine key categories are:
- Energy – Focuses on lowering carbon emissions, improving efficiency and tracking energy use through assets like smart monitoring systems
- Health and Wellbeing – Looks at air quality, natural light, acoustics and overall comfort to create healthier spaces for those using the building
- Materials – Assesses how responsibly materials are sourced and whether low-impact, sustainable products are used throughout the build
- Transport – Rewards projects with good public transport links, cycle storage and EV charging points
- Water – Encourages lower water usage through efficient fittings, leak detection systems and ongoing consumption monitoring.
- Waste – Covers construction waste management, recycling rates, and providing long-term waste solutions for people living and working in the property
- Land Use and Ecology – Measures biodiversity protection, habitat improvements, and how developments impact the surrounding natural environment
- Pollution – Assesses drainage systems, refrigerants, lighting and other measures that help minimise environmental pollution risks
- Management – Reviews project planning, site practices and how sustainability is managed throughout the construction process
A well rounded BREEAM rating must come from each area receiving a genuine score. You cannot simply optimise two or three areas to achieve a “very good” or “excellent” rating.
How to Get a BREEAM Certification
To achieve a BREEAM certification you need to follow a structured process:
- Appoint a licensed BREEAM assessor
- Register the project with BRE
- Complete a design-stage BREEAM assessment
- Carry out a post-construction review
- Receive final certification and rating
BREEAM needs to be a part of the project from day one. If you treat it as an add-on, you are unlikely to be awarded the BREEAM rating you desire and gain the associated benefits.
Achieve Compliance and Sustainability With Fresh Start
At Fresh Start, we understand that modern construction projects need compliance, transparency, and reliable reporting. As a BRE SmartWaste licensed provider, we can upload waste data directly into SmartWaste systems, helping clients support BREEAM certification, ESG reporting and contractor compliance requirements with less admin and greater accuracy.
Combined with our PAS 402 accreditation, this gives businesses confidence that their waste is being managed responsibly, transparently, and in line with strict environmental standards. For contractors and developers, it means working with a sustainable waste partner that supports smoother audits, stronger sustainability performance, and easier project compliance from start to finish.
