Two recognized environmental certifications, but two distinct assessment philosophies

With the release of version 7 of the BREEAM standard, the consideration of living systems is gaining greater prominence in international environmental certifications. Many are now asking: is a BREEAM v7 certified project as demanding as an Effinature project in terms of biodiversity? In reality, the two approaches do not assess the same things, nor with the same depth. BREEAM remains a comprehensive environmental management system for buildings, while Effinature is a scientific certification dedicated to the ecological performance of the site and its living systems, accredited to ISO/IEC 17065.

1. BREEAM v7: A comprehensive approach to sustainable building development

The BREEAM v7 (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) standard is one of the most widely used environmental standards in the world. Its structure assesses buildings across ten themes:

• Management,
• Health and well-being,
• Energy,
• Transportation,
• Water,
• Materials,
• Waste,
• Pollution,
• Innovation,
• and recently, Ecology (renamed Land Use and Ecology).

This last category, updated in BREEAM v7, is based on the Ecological Risk and Opportunity Framework. It aims to identify the ecological opportunities of the site, limit the impacts of the project and encourage a more integrated approach to biodiversity.

But in BREEAM, biodiversity is only one thematic component of the standard. The points obtained in this section contribute to the building's overall score, just like energy or waste management.

2. Effinature: a certification dedicated to ecological performance

Unlike BREEAM, Effinature does not seek to evaluate the building as a whole, but exclusively the ecological performance of the site. Developed by IRICE and accredited to ISO/IEC 17065, it applies to all types of projects—housing, offices, developments, mixed-use areas—by analyzing the actual ecological functioning of the living system.

The Effinature framework is structured around six fundamental themes:

• Preservation of living soil 
• Development of plant heritage, 
• Support for local wildlife, 
• Reduction of the project's impacts, 
• User well-being,
• Skills development.

Each certification is based on audits carried out at three stages: design, implementation and operation. The evaluation covers 115 scientific criteria, ranging from living soil to nighttime lighting, from plant selection to the ecological governance of the site.

3. BREEAM and Effinature: two incomparable assessment frameworks

BREEAM is aimed at international developers and investors wishing to demonstrate overall environmental performance. Effinature is aimed at stakeholders who want to demonstrate the actual ecological value of the site, measured on-site.

4. The limitations of the “Land Use & Ecology” section of BREEAM

Even in its version 7, the Land Use & Ecology section of BREEAM remains essentially based on intentions:

• conservation of existing natural areas,
• integration of green corridors,
• appointment of a project ecologist,
• differentiated post-construction management,
• basic ecological monitoring.

The project is scored based on cumulative points and a net biodiversity gain index, generally calculated using the British DEFRA method. However, these calculations are self-reported and rarely verified by an accredited third party in the French sense of the term. They measure a trend rather than proven ecological performance.

Effinature, on the other hand, does not rely on a score: each criterion is mandatory and subject to documented proof. The final operational audit verifies that the ecological balances announced during the design phase are actually implemented in the site's management.

5. Possible complementarity between BREEAM and Effinature

The two certifications are not mutually exclusive. On the contrary, they complement each other:

• BREEAM certifies the overall environmental quality of the building,
• Effinature certifies the actual ecological quality of the site.

A BREEAM “Excellent” project can also be Effinature certified to demonstrate that the building's environmental performance is accompanied by measured ecological resilience. This dual certification strengthens the project's credibility with investors, local authorities, and European green funds.

6. In conclusion

BREEAM v7 and Effinature share a common ambition: to make real estate development more sustainable. But their methodological approach and level of verification differ profoundly.

• BREEAM measures responsible building management.
• Effinature certifies the ecological performance of living organisms.

The first approach is international and synthetic; the second, scientific and territorial. Together, they form a complete pair: the performance of buildings and that of living organisms, environmental engineering and site biology.

It is this dual reading – sustainable building / living site – that defines the new generation of truly ecological projects.