The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) has unveiled a pioneering Europe-wide guidance, Embodied carbon in building services: logistics centres (TM65.3), developed in collaboration with Introba and Amazon. This innovative industry guidance facilitates the assessment of the embodied carbon of material handling equipment (MHE) and mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) equipment commonly used in logistics centres.
TM65.3 represents the logistics industry's first comprehensive guidance and methodology aimed at fostering informed data-based decision-making to reduce environmental footprints. By enabling stakeholders to gain deeper insights into environmental impacts and identify decarbonisation opportunities, TM65.3 empowers the industry to make sustainable choices.
Embodied carbon, encompassing greenhouse gas emissions associated with materials and construction processes, is a critical consideration. The guidance reveals that MHE can contribute an additional 17-53% to a logistics building’s embodied carbon, emphasising the importance of informed equipment decisions for reducing environmental impact.
Built upon the robust framework of Embodied carbon in building services: A calculation methodology (TM65), TM65.3 benefits a wide array of stakeholders, including logistics building owners, manufacturers, retailers, architects, engineers, policymakers, researchers and students. By providing comprehensive insights into the embodied carbon impact of MHE and MEP strategies, the document aligns with sustainability goals.
Dr Anastasia Mylona, CIBSE’s Technical Director, noted the significance of this launch in understanding embodied carbon implications within logistics buildings. Frank Lindner, Director of Operations Engineering EMEA at Amazon, highlighted the importance of robust industry guidance for informed decision-making.
Introba's Head of Sustainability for UK & Europe, Andy Stanton, emphasised TM65.3's role in quantifying embodied carbon across logistics building typologies.
As the logistics sector evolves, TM65.3 will remain a dynamic resource, with ongoing updates reflecting evolving data and industry practices. For more information on TM65.3, please visit CIBSE TM65.3 Embodied carbon in building services