The Clean Industrial Deal: Progress for Cement Decarbonization, But More Action Needed

The Clean Industrial Deal is a welcome and significant milestone in Europe’s commitment to industrial decarbonization and competitiveness. It rightly recognizes Cleantech as the key enabler of this transformation, and we fully endorse its ambition for Europe to remain a global leader in clean industrial technologies

Where the cement industry is concerned, the proposals do not go far enough in recognizing cement as a strategic priority. Cement production accounts for nearly 8% of global CO₂ emissions, making it one of the most critical industries for decarbonization. While a third of these emissions are energy-use-related, two-thirds are the result of the chemical reaction that occurs while burning limestone to produce clinker – the critical reactive material in cement. There are scalable cleantech solutions that are available today which can halve emissions from cement manufacturing by 2030. The Clean Industrial Deal’s combined focus on energy-intensive industries and cleantech, offers a unique opportunity that should not be missed.

What Works: Progress for Low-Carbon Cement

Recognition of Cement in Carbon Labeling

• The deal introduces carbon labeling for industrial products and highlights cement amongst the priority sectors. after steel. A standardization request will be lodged under the Construction Products Regulation (CPR) to establish CO₂ intensity criteria, allowing differentiation between cement products.
• This labeling system must align with the CPR and ongoing harmonization efforts.
• The chosen methodology for labeling needs to support the industry’s frontrunners and reward low-clinker, low-carbon solutions. 

Circular Economy Commitments

• The EU’s goal to become a global leader in circularity by 2030 presents an opportunity for low-clinker cement solutions.
• Greater emphasis on secondary raw materials can help advance industrial by-products like steel slags and alternative supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) like glass, pozzolans and calcined clays in cement production.
• Ecocem’s ACT technology can maximize the efficient use of secondary raw materials and SCMs in cement and deliver a 70% reduction in cement’s carbon footprint, cost-effectively.

New Market Creation Through the Industrial Decarbonization Accelerator Act (2025)

• This legislation, announced in the Clean Industrial Deal, will introduce resilience and sustainability criteria, which if designed strategically, can create lead markets for low-carbon cement.
• The introduction of non-price criteria in public procurement offers an opportunity to drive demand for clinker-reduction technologies.
• In 2024, Ireland implemented a clinker-substitution requirement for all publicly procured concrete, mandating at least 30% clinker substitution (its production being responsible for more than 90% of cement’s CO2 emissions). With this approach, Ireland is now at the forefront of simplified public policy for cement decarbonization in Europe and could serve as a model for other countries when looking at ways of accelerating change within an industry, without excessive costs.

What’s Missing: Policy Gaps for Cement Innovation

Despite these positive steps, the Clean Industrial Deal does not fully address cement decarbonization methods outside of CCUS. The proposal remains siloed, focusing on capturing emissions from existing cement production rather than enabling scalable low-carbon alternatives.

Lack of Dedicated Funding for Alternative Cement Solutions

• While it is positive that the Commission is searching for additional funding avenues and proposes the Industrial Decarbonization Bank, it is not clear whether there would be support for alternative cement technologies and clinker substitutes.
• The future funding mechanisms need to encourage first movers and sustainable frontrunners, not just the decarbonization of existing facilities.
• Solution: Push for explicit funding mechanisms for clinker-reduction technologies and the scale-up of sector-specific projects within EU financing programmes.

Performance-Based Standards Are Not Prioritized

• The Industrial Decarbonization Accelerator Act, which will be published later this year, must support multiple decarbonization pathways. Recognizing alternative clinker formulations, where Europe already holds the technological leadership will ensure that efficient low-clinker cement technologies qualify for regulatory approval and incentives.
• Solution: Adopt a multi-solution approach to ensure all viable solutions are supported.

Public Procurement Must Prioritize CO₂-Performance Standards

• The EU will revise the Public Procurement Framework (2026) to integrate sustainability and resilience criteria. While the framework does acknowledge that the criteria will also be extended to incentivize private procurement, through measures such as life cycle-based CO2 emission performance standards, cement-specific CO₂ criteria are not explicitly mentioned at this stage.
• Aligning public procurement criteria with the revised CPR would ensure regulatory consistency while reducing administrative burdens for public procurers by automatically deeming CPR-compliant products eligible for public contracts. This approach would eliminate duplication and the need for separate national frameworks.
• Additionally, such a harmonized approach ensures that the investments made by low-carbon cement producers are matched by a strong, policy-driven market demand, making it a pivotal opportunity for innovative producers to capitalize on their technological advancements.
• Solution: Introduce EU-wide CO₂ thresholds in public procurement to incentivize low-clinker cement.

Final Thoughts: Cement Must Be Fully Integrated into EU Decarbonization Policy

The Clean Industrial Deal sets an important and much needed framework, but specific measures for the cement sector, a key industry in Europe, are missing. Europe already has the technology to cut cement emissions by 70% today; yet policy still lags behind technological progress. The UK and U.S. have taken decisive steps in standardization and market creation, while the EU remains reliant on CCUS-focused policies that overlook more immediate solutions.

To maintain its leadership in clean industrial innovation, the EU must move beyond siloed policies and ensure that alternative cement solutions receive the financial and regulatory support they need to scale.

Contact and information

• To get in touch directly with an Ecocem spokesperson, contact us here
• For more information on ACT, our groundbreaking low-carbon cement technology, click here