Standards Comparison

    ISO 37001

    Voluntary
    2025

    International standard for anti-bribery management systems

    VS

    BREEAM

    Voluntary
    1990

    Global framework for sustainable building certification

    Quick Verdict

    ISO 37001 provides anti-bribery management systems for all organizations worldwide, mitigating corruption risks through certification. BREEAM assesses built environment sustainability for construction projects, driving energy efficiency and health via ratings. Companies adopt them for compliance, risk reduction, and market differentiation.

    Anti-Bribery/Compliance

    ISO 37001

    ISO 37001:2025 Anti-Bribery Management Systems

    Cost
    €€€
    Complexity
    Medium
    Implementation Time
    6-12 months

    Key Features

    • Risk-based anti-bribery management system framework
    • Mandatory third-party due diligence and monitoring
    • Leadership commitment and anti-bribery culture emphasis
    • PDCA cycle for continuous improvement
    • Internationally certifiable with Harmonized Structure integration
    Building Sustainability

    BREEAM

    Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method

    Cost
    €€€
    Complexity
    High
    Implementation Time
    12-18 months

    Key Features

    • Credit-based weighted scoring across 10 categories
    • Third-party certification by licensed assessors and BRE
    • Lifecycle coverage: new construction to in-use operations
    • Evidence-driven with KBCNs and technical manuals
    • Aligns with net zero, EU Taxonomy, resilience

    Detailed Analysis

    A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.

    ISO 37001 Details

    What It Is

    ISO 37001:2025 is an international certifiable standard for Anti-Bribery Management Systems (ABMS). It provides requirements to prevent, detect, and respond to bribery risks, focusing on direct/indirect bribery across public/private sectors. Employs a risk-based, proportionate approach via PDCA cycle and Harmonized Structure for integration.

    Key Components

    • Clauses 4-10: context, leadership, planning, support, operations, evaluation, improvement.
    • Core controls: policy, due diligence, financial/non-financial controls, training, reporting.
    • 8 auditable clusters including third-party management and culture.
    • Optional third-party certification with audits.

    Why Organizations Use It

    Mitigates legal risks (FCPA, UK Bribery Act), reduces liability via evidence of 'reasonable steps'. Drives efficiencies (15% compliance cost cut), reputational trust, ESG alignment. Enables market access, stakeholder confidence in high-risk sectors.

    Implementation Overview

    Phased: gap analysis, risk assessment, controls design, training, audits. Scalable for SMEs/multinationals, all industries/geographies. Certification via Stage 1/2 audits, 3-year cycle with surveillance. (178 words)

    BREEAM Details

    What It Is

    BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) is a science-led sustainability certification framework for the built environment. It assesses environmental, social, and resilience performance across buildings, infrastructure, and communities throughout their lifecycle. The primary purpose is to convert sustainability goals into measurable credits via a weighted scoring system, enabling comparable ratings from Pass to Outstanding.

    Key Components

    • **10 core categoriesManagement, Health & Wellbeing, Energy, Transport, Water, Materials, Waste, Land Use & Ecology, Pollution, Innovation.
    • Hundreds of credits with prerequisites, weighted by impact (e.g., high for Energy).
    • Built on technical manuals, KBCNs, and third-party assurance.
    • Certification via licensed assessors and BRE audits.

    Why Organizations Use It

    • Drives operational savings (e.g., 22-33% energy reduction), asset value uplift (up to 30%), and ESG alignment.
    • Meets planning incentives, investor demands, and EU Taxonomy.
    • Mitigates risks in regulation, reputation, and climate resilience.
    • Enhances market differentiation and tenant appeal.

    Implementation Overview

    • Phased approach: pre-assessment, design integration, construction evidence, certification, In-Use monitoring.
    • Applies to all sizes/industries globally; early assessor appointment key.
    • Requires evidence submission and BRE QA for certification.

    Key Differences

    Scope

    ISO 37001
    Anti-bribery management systems only
    BREEAM
    Built environment sustainability performance

    Industry

    ISO 37001
    All sectors worldwide
    BREEAM
    Construction, real estate, infrastructure

    Nature

    ISO 37001
    Voluntary certifiable management standard
    BREEAM
    Voluntary sustainability certification scheme

    Testing

    ISO 37001
    Third-party certification audits, surveillance
    BREEAM
    Licensed assessor evaluations, BRE audits

    Penalties

    ISO 37001
    Certification loss, no legal penalties
    BREEAM
    Certification denial, no legal penalties

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Common questions about ISO 37001 and BREEAM

    ISO 37001 FAQ

    BREEAM FAQ

    You Might also be Interested in These Articles...

    Run Maturity Assessments with GRADUM

    Transform your compliance journey with our AI-powered assessment platform

    Assess your organization's maturity across multiple standards and regulations including ISO 27001, DORA, NIS2, NIST, GDPR, and hundreds more. Get actionable insights and track your progress with collaborative, AI-powered evaluations.

    100+ Standards & Regulations
    AI-Powered Insights
    Collaborative Assessments
    Actionable Recommendations

    Check out these other Gradum.io Standards Comparison Pages