BREEAM Materials credits: win specs with solid data
BREEAM’s Materials category looks small on paper but often swings the final rating. If your products arrive with a robust, third-party EPD, you hand design teams an easy credit—and nudge competitors off the shortlist.
A whistle-stop tour of Mat 01 and Mat 02
BREEAM splits Materials into two headline issues.
- Mat 01 rewards whole-building life-cycle assessment (LCA). Up to seven credits hinge on the quality of LCA data, benchmark performance and a tidy set of design options (BRE, 2024).
- Mat 02 offers 1.5 credits for simply using 20 products that each hold a product-specific EPD verified to ISO 14025 or EN 15804 (BRE, 2024).
Manufacturers cannot influence everything in Mat 01, but they fully control Mat 02. Land those EPDs and your catalogue turns into an instant credit generator.
Why specifiers chase EPD-backed products
BREEAM adoption is surging. BRE counted 2.33 million registered buildings worldwide in 2024 (BRE Group, 2024). In North America alone certifications jumped 43 percent last year (Mann Report, 2025). Every one of those project teams must dig up 20 EPDs if they want the easy Mat 02 points. Offer them on a platter and you win the “low-friction” slot in their materials schedule.
Tier talk: what makes an EPD count
BREEAM tiers EPDs from 1 (generic) to 4 (product-specific plus plant-specific). Only tiers 3 and 4 unlock the full 1.5 credits. That means:
- third-party verification
- product-level data, not industry averages
- published through an accepted program operator
Skip any one bullet and your declaration drops to tier 2, worth precisely zero credits in Mat 02.
Mat 01: the stealth benefit
Even when your product’s share of the building mass is small, high-quality EPD data can shave enough kilograms of CO₂e in the building LCA model to bag an extra Mat 01 credit. Designers love low-hanging carbon fruit. The numbers are undeniable, it works.
ROI in plain figures
BREEAM fees might look modest compared with a new product line, yet project wins stack quickly. One UK façade supplier tracked £42 million in bids where their EPD tipped Mat 02 over the line in 2024 (internal tender logs, 2024). Exact values will vary, but the pattern repeats across cladding, insulation and even fixtures.
Fast-track tactics for manufacturers
- Map your biggest revenue drivers to BREEAM trade-offs. Heavy hitters first.
- Pick a partner who handles factory data collection end to end. Your process engineers stay on the line, not chasing spreadsheets.
- Publish under a program operator already recognised by BRE so assessors do not need side letters.
- Re-issue the EPD before the five-year mark if your energy mix improves—those lower impacts feed straight back into Mat 01.
Bottom line
Mat 02 is a door prize. Show up with 20 rock-solid, product-specific EPDs and BREEAM projects will keep calling.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many BREEAM credits can a project gain just by using products with EPDs?
Up to 1.5 credits come from Mat 02 when at least 20 product-specific, third-party verified EPDs are specified.
Do industry-average EPDs help with Mat 02?
No. Only tier 3 or tier 4 product-specific EPDs earn the credit.
Is a single EPD valid for multiple BREEAM schemes?
Yes, as long as the declaration follows ISO 14025 or EN 15804 and remains within its five-year validity period.
Can updating an EPD mid-project improve Mat 01 scores?
Yes. Lower impact numbers from process improvements feed directly into the building LCA and may unlock extra Mat 01 credits.
About the Author
John brings a clear, research-driven perspective on the EPD, LCA and HPD space and keeps a close pulse on environmental trends and standards in North America, helping clients understand where the industry is heading and how to get there.
