Global Construction C-Sink Standard – Latest Developments

Dear ,

The construction sector is entering a new era where buildings are not only designed to reduce emissions, but also to store carbon long-term.

With the Global Construction C-Sink Standard, Carbon Standards International is building the framework to quantify and certify biogenic carbon storage in buildings and construction materials.

Here are the latest updates from our ecosystem of projects, partners and training initiatives.

The first buildings with C-sink materials have been certified and issued under the Global Construction C-Sink Standard

We are excited to announce that the first buildings constructed with C-sink materials have now been successfully certified under the Global Construction C-Sink Standard.
These pioneering projects demonstrate how the built environment can transition from a major emitter to a long-term carbon sink.

The standard allows projects to quantify and certify the amount of biogenic carbon stored in construction materials such as timber, biochar-concrete, hemp, and other bio-based solutions.

This milestone marks an important step toward integrating carbon removal into the construction sector and shows how buildings can actively contribute to net-zero emissions.
More projects are currently undergoing validation and verification and will soon join the growing portfolio of certified C-sink buildings.

Cancret's hempcrete exterior wall in the laboratory: sound insulation testing at EMPA

Our partner Cancret AG is advancing the development of innovative hempcrete building systems and reached an important milestone.

A full-scale exterior wall element is currently undergoing sound insulation testing at EMPA (Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology) to evaluate its acoustic insulation performance.

Hempcrete is gaining increasing attention as a bio-based construction material capable of storing atmospheric carbon captured during hemp growth. At the same time, it offers promising properties in terms of thermal insulation, indoor climate and circular economy.

Contact: hello@cancret.com

First C-Sink Manager Training now open for registration

We are pleased to announce that registration for the first C-Sink Manager Training is now open. As an endorsed C-Sink Manager you can manage and certify buildings or infrastructures.

This two-day professional training provides participants with a comprehensive introduction to carbon storage in construction and the Global Construction C-Sink Standard.
Participants will learn about:

• Carbon cycles and climate impacts in the built environment
• Carbon removal vs. emission reduction
• Carbon accounting for bio-based construction materials
• Practical use of the Construction C-Sink Tool
• Validation and verification procedures within the standard

The training is designed for construction professionals, sustainability experts, architects, engineers and project developers who want to understand and apply carbon storage projects in the built environment according to the Global Construction C-Sink Standard.

Seats are limited. Secure your place and become one of the first endorsed Construction C-Sink Managers.

The Construction C-Sink Tool – Managing carbon storage in construction projects

The Construction C-Sink Tool is the digital platform supporting the implementation of the Global Construction C-Sink Standard.

It enables project developers and endorsed C-Sink Managers to efficiently manage construction projects and assess their carbon storage potential. Users can add new materials to the Material Index, initiate the material validation process with a Validation and Verification Body (VVB), and organize all relevant project information in one place.

The tool calculates the C-Sink potential and associated emissions of a construction project and supports the validation and verification process required for certification.

We look forward to continuously improving our digital monitoring, reporting, and verification tool together with our C-Sink managers and VVB's.

Policy and Framework Developments – CRCF and GHG-Protocol

Recent developments in international climate policy are strengthening the role of carbon storage and removals in value chains.

At the European level, the Carbon Removal & Carbon Farming Framework is advancing methodologies for carbon storage in long-lasting products, including construction materials.

Earlier this year, the Delegated Act on permanent carbon removals was published, marking an important step toward establishing a regulatory framework for carbon removal activities in Europe.

We are pleased that the Global Construction C-Sink Standard was considered during the development of the Technical Assessment Paper (TAP) for carbon storage in long-lasting products and see strong potential for future alignment and mutual recognition of carbon storage in building products. The final Delegated Act is expected by the end of 2026.

In parallel, the GHG Protocol Land Sector and Removals Standard (LSR) expands corporate greenhouse gas accounting to better include land-based emissions and carbon removals.

The guidance builds on the GHG Protocol Scope 3 Standard, where companies may include efforts to enhance sinks in their value chains, while keeping emission reductions, removals and carbon credits clearly separated in reporting.

The LSR Standard also highlights the importance of permanence, monitoring and traceability for carbon removals.

An important topic still under discussion is forest carbon accounting. Due to ongoing scientific debate on methodologies, forests are not yet fully included in the current LSR Standard. A Request for Information (RFI) will gather stakeholder input before future updates and global field testing. Until then, companies reporting forest carbon impacts should clearly disclose their chosen methodology.

The Global Construction C-Sink Standard aligns well with these developments by enabling the quantification and certification of carbon stored in buildings, supporting companies in integrating removals within their value chains (Scope 3) with transparent accounting.

We look forward to shaping the future of carbon storage in construction together.

Kind regards,

Your Team of Carbon Standards International AG

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