YORhub is committed to supporting the UK’s transition to a low-carbon future and contributing to the goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions. This strategy produced here, is based on the strategies of YORhub’s lead authorities, with feedback from YORhub users and partners and summarises the steps that YORhub will take to support its clients in reducing their carbon footprint and delivering projects with minimal impact on the environment.

YORhub has a long history of working towards carbon reduction and waste reduction. From the very first YORbuild framework, contractors were selected for appointment taking into account environmental requirements and their approach to sustainability.  YORhub was the first framework provider to sign up to the WRAP Halving Waste to Landfill commitments, and since then has successfully trialled carbon KPIs and supported academic research into the development of a suite of Carbon KPIs, which are being trialled by YORhub lead authorities.

This YORhub Net Zero Carbon Policy Statement supports the goals outlined by YORhub lead authority strategies, including:

• Leeds City Council – Best City Ambition
• Sheffield City Council – 2030 Net Zero Sheffield
• East Riding of Yorkshire Council – Carbon and Energy Management Strategy
• North Yorkshire Council – Climate Change Strategy

It also aligns with other regional strategies, such as York & North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership’s Routemap to Carbon Negative.  To this end, YORhub will work with regional partners, via forums such as the Yorkshire & Humber Strategic Procurement Group, to gain feedback on authority priorities in order to work to align the strategy and the outputs of YORhub to the needs of regional partners.

YORhub will work to support the transition of the construction industry to meet net zero carbon by 2045, recognising that the majority of cuts need to be made by 2030.

As a lead client and framework provider for the construction industry and a founding member of the National Association of Construction Frameworks, we will sign up to the Carbon Reduction Code for the Built Environment.

We will commit that by December 2025 all new major framework procurements we undertake will require framework contractors and consultants to publish plans to meet zero carbon by 2045 including the publication of annual commitments. Targets will be both annual and longer term, i.e. a 2030 target to reduce direct and indirect carbon emissions aligning or exceeding UK Government strategy. YORhub recognises that the goal is to reduce emissions first, with offsetting only considered as a last resort.

By 2026 we will support our framework contractors and consultants to set interim targets to reduce their net direct and indirect (Scope 1, 2 and where appropriate Scope 3) carbon emissions by 2030. Where framework contractors and consultants use offsetting, they will be required to publish their offsetting approach and the schemes they are using.

We will set an expectation for our framework contractors and consultants to sign up to the Carbon Reduction Code for the Built Environment at a minimum of Pledger level.

YORhub will work with framework users to champion the embedding of sustainability and net zero carbon into user policies and strategy, focussing on elements such as procurement approaches, selection of construction methods and materials, and development of sustainable circular economies.

YORhub will support the integration of sustainability into the procurement process, from project design to construction, operation and maintenance. Procurement processes should consider the environmental impact of materials, construction methods, and technology and the opportunity for development of circular economies. YORhub will champion the development and use of documentation supporting sustainability, such as North Yorkshire Councils’ Low Carbon Procurement Guide, and PAS 2080.

YORhub will encourage the use of low-carbon technologies, such as renewable energy sources, energy-efficient systems, and low-carbon transportation options. YORhub will also actively work with framework users interested in trialling new technologies and looking to explore innovative solutions.

YORhub will promote sustainable procurement practices, such as the use of sustainable materials, recycling and waste reduction, and the reduction of embodied carbon in construction materials. YORhub already provides guidance supporting sustainable procurement on the YORhub website and will work to provide further guidance on how to implement sustainable procurement practices, including guidance on how to measure and reduce embodied and operational carbon in a cradle to grave approach.

YORhub will encourage collaboration between clients, contractors, and suppliers to develop solutions that reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainable practices, with support of outcome-based specifications and recommendation of best practice commercial arrangements. YORhub will also support the development of partnerships with organizations that are focused on sustainability and will operate a regional Sustainability Special Interest Group with the aim of delivering better outcomes for localities to allow them to thrive.

YORhub will monitor and report on the carbon emissions of projects procured via the YORhub frameworks by the application of KPIs within standard framework templates, forming a carbon baseline initially, with reporting on no less than an annual basis, and will work towards the sharing of data on industry databases by 2026. YORhub will work towards having framework carbon data externally verified in line with ISO 14064-1. YORhub will also provide guidance on how to monitor and report on carbon emissions.

YORhub will continuously review and improve its approach to sustainability and net zero carbon strategy to ensure that it remains aligned with the latest developments in sustainability, circular economy, and low-carbon technologies. We will develop and make publicly available our decarbonisation roadmap, to contribute towards the UK’s transition towards net zero carbon. YORhub will also work with clients, contractors, and suppliers to identify areas for improvement and share best practices.

YORhub is committed to supporting the transition to a low-carbon future and contributing to the goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions. By embedding sustainability into procurement processes, promoting low-carbon technologies, encouraging sustainable procurement practices, and monitoring and reporting on carbon emissions, YORhub will continue to play a leading role in reducing the carbon footprint of the construction industry.