Interim Addendum: use of British Steel and material procurement

This interim addendum supplements the Net Zero Carbon and Environment and Sustainability Guidance for the Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme. It provides additional direction on the consideration of British steel and locally produced materials within procurements, balancing embodied carbon targets with wider social, economic and supply chain benefits.

While projects must comply with embodied carbon targets, delivery partners should evaluate the wider value created through their procurement choices. This includes considering the use of materials produced locally, regionally and nationally, acknowledging the potential benefits for local economies, community well-being, and supply chain sustainability.

Material selection should follow a balanced approach that supports low‑carbon objectives while maximising social value. Where suitable, this may involve specifying locally produced materials, recognising the positive contributions they can make to employment, skills development, supply chain resilience and wider economic prosperity. Consideration should also be given towards costs beyond base steel price such as shipping and import costs and associated additional embodied carbon content.

‘Locally Produced Materials’ may be defined as locally, regionally, or nationally dependent upon the material and the context of the process and core material source, for example ‘local’ in relation to steel should be defined as steel manufactured within the UK.

Steel should also be subdivided into its major elements like Structural, Rebar, Sheet to maximise the benefits considered for each area, supporting UK production where possible.