The Federation of Piling Specialists (FPS) Sustainability Committee met in March, chaired by Stuart Norman (Keltbray). The meeting focused on leadership transition, carbon reporting engagement, progress across guidance documents, development of digital tools, and updates from FPS task groups.
Key Updates and Actions:
– Sustainability Committee Chair Transition and Foundation Reuse Guidance – Stuart Norman confirmed that the Chair role is being formally transitioned to Cerys Orriss, with the committee recognising Stuart’s significant contribution to the group’s progress.
The FPS foundation reuse guidance remains under review, with the latest draft currently being reviewed. It was proposed restructuring the document into clear past, present and future sections. Members also discussed rebranding, improving the overall structure, and bringing in professional design input, with a decision still to be made on whether to retain a Word-based format or commission full desktop publishing.
– Company and Project Carbon Reporting – FPS remains the only trade association mandating carbon reporting from all members. Submission numbers have stabilised at around 45 companies, with most reporting coming from the UK, while further engagement is being encouraged among Dutch and Nordic members.
Carbon intensity trends were reviewed, with Scope 1 emissions now normalising at around 60–80 tCO₂ per €1m revenue. Scope 2 remaining relatively small despite growing site electricity use, and Scope 3 still dominated by concrete and steel, with only a limited number of organisations currently reporting. Members noted that data quality continues to improve through increased third-party verification, while a wider dashboard overhaul is underway to improve upload templates and graphical outputs.
The committee also discussed the wider challenge of achieving net zero by 2050, particularly in relation to steel and concrete, and the implications of new UK Sustainability Reporting Standards aligned with ISSB, which will require large companies to prepare costed transition plans. Discussion also covered green tariffs, residual mix calculations, and the need to avoid greenwashing.
Project-level reporting continues to gather momentum, with more than 80 submissions received for 2025, double the previous year. Work is now underway to build a 2025 carbon baseline for presentation to the FPS Executive Meeting in June. Members noted that turnover and emissions still need to be aligned more accurately by piling technique, and that further data cleansing and reclassification will be required to improve year-on-year comparisons. Early data suggests there may be potential for around 25% carbon reduction in best-case scenarios, although any sector target will need careful framing.
– EFFC-DFI Carbon Calculator – The beta version of the EFFC-DFI carbon calculator has now been released for initial testing, with the full web app expected to launch at the EFFC AGM in Edinburgh in October. API development is also underway to allow integration with estimating software. Dashboard access is expected to remain restricted initially because of data confidentiality, while bug fixing continues. A live demonstration may be arranged for the next FPS meeting once the initial issues are resolved.
– Sustainability Guides:
- Climate Adaptation & Resilience Guide – Now live, with a webinar scheduled for 12th
- Water Guide – Complete and awaiting release via a Q3 webinar.
- Nature, Wellbeing and DEI Guides – Currently in development, with contributors still being sought.
Members noted that promotion across federations has been slower than hoped because of internal transitions, although webinar attendance remains strong.
– FPS Quarterly Meeting Update – It was reported that work continues on SKEBs, Skills, Knowledge, Experience and Behaviours, for piling occupations. Sustainability is being embedded within operator and technician roles through practical competencies such as efficient resource use and reduced water consumption. Members with relevant operational and design expertise are encouraged to contribute.
Task Group Updates
– Carbon Metrics Group – Discussion on project reporting was incorporated into the wider carbon reporting agenda. The group’s priority is now to support development of the 2025 sector baseline and improve alignment between reported turnover and emissions by piling technique. Further work will also consider whether more granular technique breakdowns can be introduced into future quarterly reporting.
– Anti-Idling – A decision is to be made on whether this group should continue in its current form.
– Low Carbon Materials Group – Work is progressing on a simplified FPS Lower Carbon Concrete Guide, supported by CPD-style delivery. The aim is to help members better understand the questions they should be asking suppliers and the technologies currently available, without overwhelming non-specialist audiences. Coordination with the MPA and the Concrete Centre is planned to help ensure the guidance remains balanced and impartial. Members also discussed opportunities around low-carbon steel, although concrete remains the main priority given its dominant carbon impact. Ciaran also shared details of FPS engagement with the New Hospital Programme, including emerging expectations around net positive wellbeing on site and net zero delivery. These requirements are likely to influence contract and tender expectations across the sector.
– FPS Digital Project Map and Foundation Reuse – The Digital Map was officially launched following this meeting (on 24th March 2026, at GE Basements & Underground Structures), with a full PR/comms launch on the same day. Future iterations may include pile typologies, testing data, and links to wider public datasets such as national geological sources. The map continues to be positioned as a practical tool to support design optimisation and future foundation reuse.