6.2.1 Framework
The EU has asked the European standardisation organisation CEN to develop a common European methodology for assessing sustainability of construction works.
Today, the series consist of ten European standards and technical reports (CEN, 2012) – probably with more to come. The standards are voluntary, but created on a mandate given from the Commission; the methodologies are expected to become mandatory.
The standards fulfil the general principles for LCA (see 6.1) and sustainability, described in international standards ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 (CEN, 2006a; ISO, 2006b) and by UNEP and SETAC (UNEP, 2009; EPEA, 2014)
All major private scheme operators have declared that they will follow the principles of these standards or at least acknowledge data derived from applying the methodology (EPEA, 2014).