The Lower Thames Crossing (LTC) project—a major highways development aimed at constructing an 11km road and tunnel below the River Thames, providing a new connection between Kent and Essex—has taken a leading role in applying innovative decarbonisation standards to reduce its environmental impact. As part of its commitment to ambitious carbon reduction targets, LTC is integrating two key standards: PAS 2080 and BSI Flex 350, to manage and cut carbon emissions throughout the project's lifecycle.

PAS 2080, originally launched in 2016 as the world’s first specification targeting carbon reduction in infrastructure, has recently been updated and expanded in its 2023 revision. This updated standard now covers not only infrastructure but also buildings, extending its reach to cover the entire lifecycle of built environment assets—from material sourcing, design, and construction, through operation, use, and ultimately demolition and disposal. Developed collaboratively by the British Standards Institution (BSI), the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), and the Green Construction Board (GCB), PAS 2080:2023 emphasises an integrated, whole-life approach to carbon management. It encourages early collaboration among all project stakeholders—including asset owners, designers, contractors, and material suppliers—to embed carbon-conscious decision-making from the outset and maintain this focus throughout the asset’s lifetime.

The LTC project’s application of PAS 2080 is illustrative of this collaborative and systemic approach. Project managers have adopted the standard’s principles to rethink traditional construction methodologies and materials, aiming for significant carbon savings. Among these initiatives is the use of alternatives to conventional concrete mixes by incorporating lower-carbon cements and binders, in line with the BSI Flex 350 standard. BSI Flex 350 promotes the substitution of high-carbon construction materials with more sustainable options, contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions within the value chain.

The event hosted by ICE South East England’s Carbon Competency Roadshow highlighted these efforts, featuring input from the LTC project’s asset owners, contractors, designers, and material suppliers. The forum provided expert guidance on applying both PAS 2080 and BSI Flex 350 in tandem and included a panel discussion to further explore practical challenges and opportunities inherent in aligning such standards with real-world, large-scale infrastructure projects.

Beyond the LTC project, PAS 2080 has gained recognition as a global carbon management standard that meets World Trade Organization requirements. It provides a transparent and consistent framework to quantify carbon at critical points in infrastructure delivery, encouraging data sharing and identification of interdependencies within complex asset networks. The ICE has also supported implementation by publishing free guidance to assist organisations in embedding PAS 2080’s processes, while the British Standards Institution offers a certification programme to formally acknowledge compliance and commitment to sustainable development.

The revised PAS 2080 and complementary BSI Flex 350 standards represent a shift from carbon reduction ambition to tangible action, encouraging sustainability-driven innovation across the infrastructure sector. Implemented well, these frameworks not only aim to cut emissions significantly but also reveal cost-saving opportunities by promoting smarter design, construction, and procurement practices. Projects like the Lower Thames Crossing exemplify how rigorous application of these standards can drive industry-wide transformation toward net-zero carbon goals in the built environment.

📌 Reference Map:

Source: Noah Wire Services