Marcel
de Groot
CEO
What is BREEAM certification? Sustainability and added value for your office
✔Last updated: December 2025, by Jeroen van der Linde
When you start looking for a new office space, you face the challenge of finding the right balance between location, costs, facilities, and the appearance of your company. Increasingly, sustainability also plays an important role in this consideration. After all, you want a healthy, efficient, and future-proof workplace for your team.
In the real estate world you will quickly come across the term BREEAM certification. But what exactly is BREEAM and what added value does it offer? This label is a strong indicator of quality, but it is certainly not the only way to rent sustainably. Let’s take a look at how BREEAM can enrich your search.
What is BREEAM and how is an office assessed?
BREEAM stands for Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method. It is the world’s leading independent method for measuring and assessing the sustainability performance of a building. A BREEAM certificate indicates that a building has been thoroughly assessed in terms of its environmental impact and the wellbeing of its users.
BREEAM certification not only looks at the energy label, but also assesses the building’s performance based on an extensive set of sustainability factors.
The nine main BREEAM categories: a broad view of sustainability
- Health and Wellbeing: Focus on elements that directly affect your employees, such as optimal air quality, daylight and thermal comfort.
- Energy: Efficiency of installations to keep CO2 emissions and consumption low.
- Water: Measures to prevent water wastage.
- Materials: Use of sustainable, responsibly sourced or recycled materials.
- Waste: Good facilities for waste management and recycling.
- Land Use and Ecology: The ecological value of the site.
- Pollution: Limiting environmentally harmful substances.
- Transport: Encouraging sustainable commuting (public transport, cycling).
- Management: Clearly defined sustainability objectives in building management.
BREEAM and Energy Labels: the key difference
Many people confuse BREEAM certification with the legally required Energy Label (classes A to G). Although there are overlaps, it is important to know the difference when renting an office:
- The Energy Label: this is a legally required certificate that focuses purely on the building’s energy performance. It indicates the fossil energy consumption per square metre, related to insulation, heating and ventilation. An A label is the best, a G label the worst.
- BREEAM certification: this is a voluntary label that goes much further. BREEAM does consider energy (this is one of the nine categories), but adds criteria such as health, transport, water consumption and ecology. BREEAM is therefore a much broader and more in-depth indicator of a building’s overall sustainability performance.
In short: an A label is a condition for sustainability, whereas BREEAM is proof of integrated sustainability and higher quality.
The ratings: an additional quality seal
The score for BREEAM certification is expressed as a percentage of the total points achievable. This results in one of the following ratings:
| Rating | Minimum required score | Added value for you |
|---|---|---|
| Pass | ≥ 30% | Meets good, verifiable sustainability standards. |
| Good | ≥ 45% | A solid and above-average sustainability performance. |
| Very Good | ≥ 55% | A highly sustainable building with clear environmental and wellbeing benefits. |
| Excellent | ≥ 70% | Exceptionally efficient and a very high-quality office. |
| Outstanding | ≥ 85% | The absolute top segment: a building that leads the way in sustainability and innovation. |
BREEAM as added value: what does the certification offer you?
BREEAM certification is not a requirement, but it offers your company a number of strong advantages that can make choosing a property easier:
1. Increased operational efficiency
Although a non-certified office can also be energy efficient, high BREEAM certification provides you with assurance of lower operating costs. The strict requirements in energy and water use often result in a structurally lower energy bill for you as a tenant. It is an objective guarantee of efficiency.
2. Focus on wellbeing and productivity
The emphasis in BREEAM on indoor climate, light and air quality means that the building is designed to maximise user wellbeing. A pleasant, bright and well-ventilated working environment can contribute to higher concentration and productivity among your employees, and potentially lower levels of sick leave.
3. A powerful CSR statement
In today’s market your office is a reflection of your company values. By consciously choosing a BREEAM-certified building, you clearly communicate that Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is of great importance to you. This is a strong point for your image and is often seen as an advantage in attracting new talent.
BREEAM: the added value you are looking for, available via Flexas.com
The question “what is BREEAM” has now been answered: it is an excellent benchmark for a sustainable office that provides additional benefits in terms of costs and wellbeing.
It is important to remember that many office buildings that are not BREEAM-certified still meet high sustainability standards. BREEAM is a quality mark, but not a necessity or mandatory certification.
Ultimately, the choice comes down to what best suits your company’s future vision. Whatever your priorities, at Flexas.com we are happy to guide you through the search. We ensure that you find the right office, a place that is ready for tomorrow.
