Eligibility Criteria

The BBA Sustainable Innovator Award is open to growth-ready manufacturers, specifically start-ups and small businesses, with innovative construction products that are suitable for independent assessment and certification. 

To be eligible, both the organisation and the product must meet the criteria outlined below. 

1. Organisational Eligibility

Entries are open to growth-ready organisations that manufacture products for use in the construction sector, specifically start-ups and small businesses. Eligible organisations must be the original developers and manufacturers of the product submitted.

Eligible organisations include:

• Star-tups:
  • 0–9 employees
  • Annual turnover under €2 million
  • New to certification
• Small businesses:
  • 10–49 employees
  • Annual turnover under €10 million
  • May have limited prior experience of certification

All entrants must be:

• A legally registered business, within the first 5–7 years of trading
• Willing and able to engage fully with the BBA assessment and certification process
• Committed to ongoing participation, evaluation and investment beyond the initial certification period

The target audience is any potential certificate holder, defined as the organisation directly responsible for the development and manufacture of the product.

2. Product Elegibility

To be eligible, the submitted product must meet all the following criteria: 

• The product is not currently certified by the BBA 
• The product is considered innovative, meaning it introduces a new or significantly improved:  
  • function 
  • design 
  • material
  • system or process that delivers better performance, greater efficiency, or solves a recognised construction industry challenge 
• The product is already manufactured and in production, and is suitable for independent assessment 
• The product is intended for use in the built environment, including civil and highways applications 
• The product can demonstrate eligibility for certification, including appropriate liability coverage 
• The product is the original work of the submitting organisation (no white labelled or rebranded products) 
• Products must be at an appropriate level of market and technical readiness: 
  • Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 8 or above, or 
  • TRL 7 with supporting test data (find out more about Technology Readiness Levels HERE)

3. Commitment to Certification

As part of entry, shortlisted organisations must confirm their commitment to: 

• Engaging with the BBA as the certifying body 
• Providing all required technical documentation and evidence 
• Participating in assessment activities in line with standard BBA processes 
• Working to agreed timelines 

Entry into the Innovation Award provides access to the certification process free of charge, but does not guarantee certification, which remains subject to standard BBA assessment procedures. 

4. Exclusions

The following are not eligible for entry: 

• Products that are already certified by the BBA or currently under contract with the BBA 
• White labelled or third-party manufactured products 
• Concept stage products or solutions below the required TRL threshold 
• Products intended solely for:  
  • upgrading or remediation 
  • electrical applications 
  • excluded specialist sectors as defined by the BBA
  • products that cannot demonstrate compliance with baseline safety and legal requirements