BES 6001 Framework Standard for Responsible Sourcing

How products and materials are assessed 

The BES 6001 standard focuses on individual materials or products. That means it’s the materials or products that are covered by the certification, not the organisation itself. A company may sell some products that are certified, while still selling others that have not yet been assessed.

The standard is broken down into three sections:

• Organisational management requirements

• Supply chain management requirements

• Requirements related to the management of sustainable development

It assesses the management practices of the organisation as well as the nature, sources and make-up of the various component materials in the product.

To meet the standard, organisations must satisfy certain compulsory elements. There are also higher levels of compliance that can earn the product or material a higher performance rating. This also offers a route to gaining credits under the BREEAM family of certification schemes.

Version 4.0 now available

Following public consultation, version 4.0 of the BES 6001 Standard has been published and is available for certification. V4.0 has enhanced emphasis on social aspects of responsible sourcing, sustainable procurement and supply chain engagement. It also adds environmental themes including biodiversity and site stewardship. Requirements have also been introduced to award science-based target setting and to encourage continuous improvement. The updated scoring structure enables manufacturers to focus on criteria most relevant to their organisations and products.