Net Zero Procurement
Place carbon alongside cost, schedule, risk and other decision factors through procurement.
Transport infrastructure decarbonisation
What Is the Sustainable Infrastructure Program in NSW?
The Sustainable Infrastructure Program is a Transport for NSW initiative developed with industry to drive decarbonisation and circularity across Transport’s infrastructure lifecycle—from early business cases and procurement through design, construction, operation, maintenance and end of life.
Reviewed against current NSW sources: August 2026
The short answer
Transport for NSW launched the Sustainable Infrastructure Program (SIP) in 2023 as a practical pathway for Transport and its industry partners to reduce infrastructure-related emissions and move towards a circular asset model. The program is aligned with Transport’s Net Zero and Climate Change Policy and the broader NSW Decarbonising Infrastructure Delivery Roadmap.
SIP is not a general sustainability grant, a single planning approval or a blanket requirement for every project in NSW. Its requirements and tools are relevant to Transport’s capital program and delivery partners, while other NSW Government policies and project contracts may create separate carbon-management obligations.
Project requirements remain specific. Delivery teams should read the tender, deed, Transport standards, technical criteria and reporting requirements for the actual package rather than assume every SIP tool or target applies in the same way.
SIP’s five workstreams
Engineering and Innovation
Reform design and engineering decisions to reduce both carbon and cost where feasible.
Development Phase
Use carbon values in business cases and address high-impact decisions early in the asset lifecycle.
Construction Phase
Accelerate lower-emission plant, equipment and modern construction methods where suitable.
Systems and Alignment
Align processes, data and requirements across Transport so delivery teams can work consistently.
How the program turns policy into delivery tools
Transport’s published SIP material identifies a digital and technical ecosystem designed to make carbon and sustainability information usable in project decisions.
| Cost and carbon data | The Engineering Cost and Carbon Library links construction resources to baseline carbon data and a consistent classification approach. |
|---|---|
| Concrete information | Global Warming Potential data in the Concrete Mix Register supports more transparent mix comparison and approval decisions. |
| Management guidance | Cost and Carbon Management guidance integrates carbon into familiar cost-management and engineering processes. |
| Common digital language | The Infrastructure Common Data Model is intended to support consistent information exchange across cost, schedule, risk and environmental, social and governance dimensions. |
| Sustainable outcomes | Valuing Sustainable Outcomes guidance is designed to help project teams compare broader social, economic, environmental and governance outcomes. |
How SIP relates to wider NSW infrastructure policy
Transport for NSW SIP
A Transport-focused program for decarbonisation, circularity, digital tools, procurement and delivery change across Transport’s infrastructure lifecycle.
Decarbonising Infrastructure Delivery Policy
An Infrastructure NSW policy setting expectations for managing and reporting upfront embodied carbon on major NSW Government projects. Infrastructure NSW states it applies to building projects over $50 million and linear infrastructure over $100 million.
Measurement Guidance
A common method for agencies and industry to measure embodied emissions consistently, including aligned assumptions and reporting conventions.
2024–2026 Roadmap
A coordinated Infrastructure NSW and Transport for NSW workplan covering policy implementation, tools, capability, data and the progressive expansion of whole-life carbon management.
What delivery partners should prepare
Read the contract
Identify the exact carbon, circularity, data, reporting, design and construction obligations in the package.
Find hotspots
Establish the relevant baseline and focus design effort on materials, quantities, plant, logistics and activities with material impact.
Test alternatives
Compare options for constructability, safety, durability, cost, carbon, program and operational performance.
Verify delivery
Record approved products, quantities, suppliers, waste flows, plant use, changes and evidence required for reporting.
- Engage designers, estimators, procurement and construction teams early.
- Keep carbon assumptions, data sources and boundaries consistent and traceable.
- Confirm that alternative materials and methods satisfy performance and approval requirements.
- Plan staging and logistics to reduce rework, idle plant, double handling and unnecessary haulage.
- Prioritise waste prevention and reuse before relying on disposal or offset-style claims.
- Track changes so claimed reductions can be reconciled with the delivered asset.
Where SCE can support delivery
Sydney Contracting Engineers is a highly qualified, skilled and experienced construction team with building and civil capability. For an authorised scope, SCE can support constructability, staging, logistics, environmental controls, material management, quality records and coordinated site delivery.
SCE does not administer SIP and does not assume that a particular target, rating or carbon reduction applies without the project’s evidence and contract requirements. Outcomes depend on the design, baseline, asset context, approvals, supply chain and agreed measurement method.
Review SCE’s civil services, delivery system, project experience and project tools.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Sustainable Infrastructure Program in NSW?
It is a Transport for NSW program developed with industry to support decarbonisation and circularity across Transport infrastructure, using procurement, engineering, digital tools and lifecycle decision-making.
Does SIP apply to every infrastructure project in NSW?
No. SIP is a Transport for NSW program. The requirements for a project depend on its agency, contract, value, asset type and applicable policies. Separate Infrastructure NSW carbon policy applies to defined major government projects.
What are SIP’s five workstreams?
They are Net Zero Procurement; Net Zero Engineering and Innovation; decarbonising the development phase; decarbonising the construction phase; and cross-cluster systems, processes and alignment.
How does SIP relate to the Decarbonising Infrastructure Delivery Policy?
SIP is Transport’s delivery program. The separate Infrastructure NSW policy sets expectations for upfront embodied-carbon management and reporting on major NSW Government building and linear-infrastructure projects.
What information may delivery partners need to provide?
Contract-specific requirements can include baselines, quantities, material and supplier data, plant and energy information, waste flows, option assessments, approved changes and evidence supporting reported outcomes.
How can construction teams reduce infrastructure carbon?
Teams can address carbon early, reduce material demand, compare lower-impact options, improve logistics and plant use, prevent waste, reuse suitable materials and verify what was actually delivered. Safety, durability and approvals remain essential.
Current official references
- Transport for NSW — Sustainable Infrastructure Program
- Infrastructure NSW — decarbonising infrastructure
- Infrastructure NSW and Transport for NSW — Decarbonising Infrastructure Roadmap
- Infrastructure NSW — Decarbonising Infrastructure Delivery Policy
References were checked on 26 August 2026. Use the current tender and contract documents for a live project.