Daikin Europe N.V. has become the first manufacturer of HVAC equipment in the world to achieve the BRE’s internationally respected BES 6001 responsible sourcing standard for its VRV air conditioning system, providing the industry with third party verification of its supply chain. The BES 6001 standard was developed by the BRE to demonstrate responsible sourcing throughout the supply chain by proving product stewardship against social, economic and environmental sustainability criteria. As the standard is recognised by BREEAM, the world’s leading building rating scheme, and rated as Very Good, specifiers and contractors can potentially gain additional BREEAM credits by choosing a certified product, safe in the knowledge it has been responsibly sourced and manufactured. The responsible sourcing covers the Daikin Group’s Belgian-made products including its high efficiency VRV range. The Daikin Group offers products which utilise the latest technologies in both air conditioning and fluorochemicals to provide comfort in all aspects of peoples’ lives globally. Through developing energy-efficient technologies, Daikin has brought to market products and services with restricted CO2 emissions which contribute to sustainable development across society. The BRE BES 6001 Framework Standard for the Responsible Sourcing of Construction Products is the leading framework for product manufacturers to demonstrate responsible sourcing of their products. The standard encompasses organisational and supplier management systems alongside environmental and social characteristics of the business. Commenting on this achievement, Dr Shamir Ghumra, Head of Responsible Sourcing at BRE said, 'This is a significant milestone for the construction products sector. Early adopters of the BES 6001 standard have had shorter and less complex supply chains. Daikin has demonstrated a genuine commitment to responsible sourcing by assessing the many components of their air conditioning units made in Belgium proving that certification can be achieved for complex products.' Graham Wright, Legislation Specialist at Daikin UK Ltd, added, 'This is another significant endorsement for Daikin products. Over the past ten years we have invested in reducing our organisational impact - and the embodied impact we pass on to the users of our products. The BES 6001 standard allowed us to collate a range of supply chain management practices and our own environmental & social performance into a single consistent framework, and allows us to support our clients in the BREEAM process as a result. The Very Good rating shows that we have reached an unparalleled position in the industry for responsible sourcing, as well as highlighting areas in which we can continue to improve.' For further information please contact Linda McKeown, BRE, email pressoffice@bregroup.com NOTES TO EDITOR BES 6001 Framework Standard for the Responsible Sourcing of Construction Products is an independent third-party certification scheme which aims to assess responsible sourcing policies and practices throughout the supply chain of any construction product. Full details are here BREEAM is the internationally recognised measure of sustainability for buildings and communities. More than 530,000 certificates have been issued under BREEAM on more than 24,000 projects around the world, and over 2.2 million buildings and communities are registered for certification. BREEAM is used in more than 70 countries. More information at https://bregroup.com/products/breeam/ Daikin Europe N.V.is the headquarters of Daikin for Europe, the Middle East and some parts of Africa. Daikin Europe N.V. was founded in 1972 in Ostend (Belgium). Initially this branch functioned as an assembly and distribution centre. Today, it has grown to become an international headquarters for development, production, administration, sales and marketing, with a strategic office in Brussels (Anderlecht).