BAM's UK & Ireland businesses have set a carbon target to become net zero in their direct operations by 2026.

It is ruling out counting electricity from green energy tariffs towards its net zero emissions.

The target places BAM at the forefront of the UK and Ireland’s construction sector’s major contractors.

It builds upon Royal BAM Group’s target to reduce its direct emissions intensity by 80% by 2026 from 2015 levels.

The company is committed to openness and not relying heavily on carbon offsets which it believes can disguise more substantial progress in how a company is acting.

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BAM's UK & Ireland net zero commitment encompasses not just direct scope 1 and scope 2 emissions (associated with fuels and energy use), but also select scope 3 emissions, going further than most net zero carbon targets in the sector.

BAM's scope 3 emissions include water consumption, staff transport (across road, rail and air), emissions arising from using hotels, emissions from third party fuel and energy use and all well-to-tank (upstream) emissions associated with scope 1 and scope 2 emissions. The company says it has significant influence over all these emissions sources.

BAM becomes the only company in the sector at present not to count its purchase of renewable (REGO-backed) electricity towards zero emissions.

Any remaining emissions from 2026 will be offset using high quality nature-based solutions such as re-forestation, or carbon capture technologies.