CIRA is the construction industry research and information association. The construction materials industry is being subjected to growing stakeholder expectations about the accountability, transparency and legitimacy of its operations. It is time to act on these concerns and ensure that the UK construction industry is responsibly sourcing its materials and products. Responsible sourcing is a holistic approach to managing a product from the point at which component materials are mined or harvested, through manufacture and processing; its adoption demonstrates an ethos of supply chain management and product stewardship (eg FSC or PEFC) and encompasses social, economic and environmental dimensions. CIRIA are working in partnership with APRES (Action Programme on Responsible Sourcing) and Responsible Solutions to develop practical guidance to assist buyers to procure key materials for construction projects that takes account of the “global supply chain” and highlights the reputational and financial risks arising from “getting it wrong”. To read more about this project, please visit: www.ciria.org/Research/Project_proposals2/Responsible_sourcing.aspx
