NCO 25.05: certifying the biodiversity of new buildings

Who is NCO 25.05 for?

The standard is aimed at project owners running a new construction operation who want to substantiate the ecological quality of their project: property developers, social housing landlords, investors, local authorities and land developers. It covers collective housing as well as offices, public facilities and mixed-use operations. Certification provides third-party, enforceable proof of biodiversity performance, where a mere self-declaration does not carry the same weight with lenders, buyers and public authorities.

Two assessment phases

NCO 25.05 structures the assessment in two stages, to support the project throughout its lifecycle:

• 1 Design phase. Assessment of the commitments made from the study stage: ecological site diagnosis, siting choices, green-and-blue network, water management, living soils, urban heat-island mitigation, and the potential to host fauna and flora.
• 2 Delivery phase. On-site verification, at handover, that the design commitments have actually been implemented. This phase determines the issuance of the certificate.

What the standard assesses

The assessment focuses on the ecological environments and functions actually present or created on the operation: soil quality and soil life, stormwater management and infiltration, planting and vegetation layers, ecological continuity with the site's surroundings, habitats favourable to ordinary wildlife, reduced soil sealing and the climate comfort of outdoor spaces. Each theme is judged on concrete evidence (studies, plans, field surveys), not on intentions alone.

51 criteria, 119 requirements

NCO 25.05 is made up of 51 criteria grouping 119 precise requirements. This granularity establishes a measurable performance level, comparable from one operation to another. The field assessment is carried out by a Biodiversity Partner, an ecologist qualified by IRICE, ensuring a consistent and independent reading of the standard.

Why certify a new building?

Regulatory and extra-financial pressure on biodiversity is accelerating: the CSRD directive and ESRS E4 standard, Article 35 of the French Climate and Resilience Act, and the expectations of investors and local authorities. In this context, an accredited biodiversity certification turns a narrative into verifiable proof. It enhances the operation's value with buyers, secures environmental claims and sets the project apart in its market. Effinature is part of a wider toolset run by the NORMAXIS group, from a free pre-diagnostic through to a signed certification.

How to obtain NCO 25.05 certification

The path is straightforward: you submit an application to IRICE, the certification body (Cofrac accreditation No. 5-0655). Once the application is deemed admissible, a Biodiversity Partner assesses your operation against the standard. IRICE then makes the certification decision independently and issues the certificate, which is listed in the public registry of certified operations.