Growing the market for low carbon industrial products: policy framework
This consultation is open for responses
Respond to this consultationSummary
DESNZ proposes a voluntary framework to classify and report embodied carbon in steel, cement, and concrete products. The consultation, extended to 29 September 2025, explores product classifications, emissions reporting frameworks, and potential future mandatory standards. This builds on 2023 commitments to address carbon leakage through product-level carbon accounting.
Key facts
- •Consultation extended to 29 September 2025
- •Initial focus on steel, cement, and concrete products
- •Framework is voluntary, with potential future mandatory product standards
- •Builds on 2023 Carbon Leakage consultation commitments
Timeline
Memo
> We have extended the consultation closing date to 29 September 2025 (from 15 September). The consultation sets out proposals to deliver a voluntary policy framework to grow the market for low carbon industrial products, with an initial focus on steel, cement, and concrete. Building on the 2023 Carbon Leakage consultation, where the government committed to establish product classifications (formerly called voluntary product standards) and an embodied emissions reporting framework, this consultation marks the next step in policy development. It includes options for: * Improving product level carbon accounting through the embodied emissions reporting framework (EERF) * Defining what constitutes a low carbon product through product classifications and; * Setting out proposals for developing best practice green procurement guidance. Additionally, the consultation explores potential future policies the government could consider in addition to this framework, including ecolabelling and mandatory product standards (MPS).