Methodology

Biobased construction materials

RIV-BIOBM-01-CONST

V2.2

Overall Available Credits

67592

tCO₂eq

Overall forecasted delivery

372947

tCO₂eq

Most used mechanism

Removal

Last Update

August 7, 2024

using this methodology

10

Projects

About the methodology

Buildings are responsible for 21% of global greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), which can be divided into operational emissions (energy consumption during use) and embodied emissions (from the production, maintenance, and disposal of building materials). Embodied emissions in buildings account for 5-12% of national GHGs in Europe, primarily due to the energy-intensive production of cement and steel, the most widely used materials globally. Biobased construction materials, derived from biogenic sources, typically have lower embodied emissions as they are composed of renewable carbon with low or negative impacts and often involve less energy-intensive manufacturing. These materials can earn Riverse Carbon Credits for carbon storage if they last over 100 years and for avoidance if they have lower embodied impacts than conventional materials. The Riverse methodology for biobased construction materials focuses on the manufacture of biobased materials and their use in construction or renovation. This document is a concise presentation of this methodology.

Biobased construction materials

August 7, 2024

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V2.2

Open Documentation

Technology

The production of biobased construction materials involves several key processes:

Raw material sourcing: Procuring renewable biological resources that can be sustainably harvested and have high carbon sequestration potential. Projects often innovate in this field by utilizing low-value or waste feedstocks.
Processing: Converting raw biological materials into construction-ready products through processes such as milling, drying, and treatment to enhance durability and functionality.
Manufacturing: Fabricating construction materials, which may include composites, panels, and structural elements.
Construction: Using these materials in building projects, which involves design considerations to maximize the environmental benefits and durability of the biobased materials.

Scientific approach

Quantification

The life cycle stages of a building material are presented, according to the norm EN 15804’s terminology using modules A-D.

Open image

The methodology quantifies carbon removals and GHG emissions avoided compared to baseline scenarios using the ISO 14064-2 standard. In this methodology, all projects must submit one or multiple Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) that follow EN 15804 (e.g., FDES in France), providing a detailed life cycle assessment.

Key aspects include:

Baseline Scenario:

Assumes the use of conventional construction materials such as concrete and steel, which have higher embodied carbon and less potential for carbon sequestration.
Baselines may include a share of the project product or other biobased products if they are frequently used in business-as-usual.
Baseline material impacts are taken from publicly available EPDs.

Project Scenario:

GHGs for all materials are derived from EPDs provided by Project Developers (following the EN15804 norm), encompassing stages such as raw material extraction, processing, manufacturing, construction, and end-of-life treatment.

Calculations:

Emission Reductions: Calculated by subtracting the GHG emissions of the project scenario from the baseline scenario.
Carbon Storage: The biogenic carbon stored in the materials is quantified in EPDs, and removal credits are issued if the expected duration of carbon storage is at least 100 years.
Comparative LCA: Used to ensure all relevant emissions are included and to validate the GHG reduction claims. This includes upstream and downstream emissions, indirect impacts, and any potential leakage effects.

Main Scientific Resources:

IPCC 2022: Cabeza, L. F., Q. Bai, P. Bertoldi, J.M. Kihila, A.F.P. Lucena, É. Mata, S. Mirasgedis, A. Novikova, Y. Saheb, 2022: Buildings. In IPCC, 2022: Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change. doi: 10.1017/9781009157926.011
European Commission, Buildings and construction. Accessed October 2023.
Cabeza et al., 2021: Cabeza, L.F., Boquera, L., Chàfer, M., Vérez, D., 2021. Embodied energy and embodied carbon of structural building materials: Worldwide progress and barriers through literature map analysis. Energy and Buildings 231, 110612. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2020.110612

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Core criteria of the methodology

Riverse ensures that carbon financing spurs additional climate action by enabling solutions that wouldn't occur without carbon finance revenue. Carbon credits cannot be issued for activities that would have happened anyway.

Regulatory Surplus Analysis:

‍Several regulations relate to or promote biobased construction, but none mandate it. The European Union’s (EU) Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) and the Circular Economy Action Plan promote the use of biobased materials. The EU regulation on the marketing of construction products (EU/305/2011) (CPR) lays out definitions for various construction products but does not mandate the use of biobased materials by construction companies.There are currently no regulations at the EU level requiring the manufacture or use of biobased materials. Thus, biobased construction material projects remain voluntary and are not obligatory for compliance.

Barrier Analysis:

‍Biobased materials projects typically prove their additionality using barrier analysis. This analysis demonstrates that they face financial, technological, or institutional barriers that threaten their operations and can only be overcome with solutions funded by carbon finance. For example:

Higher Operating Costs and Price Gap: Biobased materials often require more intensive processing and quality control compared to conventional materials, resulting in higher prices for final products. This makes them less competitive in markets dominated by cheaper alternatives. Carbon finance could effectively subsidize these materials, making them cost-competitive.
Localizing Feedstock and Production Lines: Biobased projects may incur additional costs by sourcing waste feedstock that is not near production lines, causing inefficient supply chains, high transportation costs, and environmental impacts. To address this, biobased material producers may invest in production facilities located near their feedstock sources.

Investment Analysis:

‍In addition to barrier analysis, biobased materials projects may use investment analysis to justify their need for carbon financing to expand and scale up activities that would not otherwise be financially viable. For example:

Investment in Accelerating the Manufacturing Process: Projects may invest in machinery to speed up feedstock provisioning, transportation, or manufacturing processes, thereby increasing production volumes.

Note that for investments in expansion, only the additional activities enabled by the expansion are eligible for Riverse Carbon Credits.

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Compliance

Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Calculation

We adhere to the ISO14064-2 standard to accurately quantify GHG emissions reductions and sequestration. Our approach ensures that all calculations are transparent, consistent, and reliable.

Our approach

Project Reporting

All our projects must comply with the General Standard Rules in accordance with ICVCM and ICROA requirements. This ensures the highest level of integrity and transparency in our reporting processes.

ICROA accreditation

Audit and Verification

Every project undergoes rigorous validation and recurring verification/monitoring audits by accredited Validation and Verification Bodies (VVBs). This process guarantees the credibility and accuracy of our projects' emissions reductions.

List of accredited VVBs

Credit TraceabilitY

Our registry offers end-to-end traceability for the lifecycle of our credits, preventing double counting or double claiming. This system ensures that each credit's history is fully transparent and accountable.

Access Registry

Projects using this methodology

Overall Available Credits

67592

tCO₂eq

browse in registry

10

Projects

Cobenefits most found in the projects

Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.

Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation.

Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.

Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.

Eligibility criteria

A collage with Riverse methodologies images

All projects must comply with the following eligibility criteria:

Measurability
Reality
Additionality
Permanence (not applicable here, avoidance credits)
No Double Counting
Co-benefits
Substitution
Environmental and Social Do No Harm
Leakage
Technology Readiness Level
Target Alignments
Minimum Impact

Specific scope for biobased construction materials project

Covers construction materials derived from renewable biological resources. The primary focus is on materials that store biogenic carbon and contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions over their lifecycle. This includes materials such as timber, bamboo, wood framing, hempcrete, and cellulose insulation and other plant-based products.
Eligible Projects Developers are either: material manufacturers or building developers using biobased materials.
All projects are eligible for avoidance Riverse Carbon Credits (RCCs), and if the biobased material is expected to store carbon for 100 years or more, the project is also eligible for removal RCCs.

Project Application

Versioning history

Version management is handled through a system that ensures consistency and traceability of changes.

Visit our FAQ page or contact us to learn more

V2.2

Aug 7, 2024

Currently in use

V2.1

May 17, 2024

Currently in use

V2.0

Mar 15, 2024

Currently in use

V1.1

Oct 23, 2023

Currently in use

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