Low-carbon + Union origin
The same qualifying volume must meet both conditions.
Cement and construction
How low-carbon and Union-origin rules could affect cement and construction costs
Follow a cement production-cost premium through the proposed 5% qualifying-volume rule and into final construction costs.
01 · Proposed legal rule
At least 5% must be low-carbon and of qualifying Union origin
In covered public procurement and support schemes, at least 5% by volume of concrete or mortar—including its clinker and cement—must be both low-carbon and qualifying Union origin.
No auction rule
The requirement applies in covered procurement and support schemes.
Low-carbon definition
The detailed definition still requires implementing rules.
25% / 30%
Separate excessive-cost thresholds apply to procurement (25%) and support schemes (30%).
02 · Production chain
From limestone to a construction project
The model starts with a cement premium, applies it only to the qualifying volume, then weights it by the selected downstream cost share.
- 01 · raw feedLimestone + clayQuarried, crushed and prepared
- 02 · high heatKiln + clinkerCalcination and kiln fuel drive most emissions
- 03 · finishGrinding + blendingClinker is ground with gypsum and other materials
- 04 · productCementThe production premium enters the model here
- 05 · specified volumeConcrete / mortarThe qualifying share applies by volume
- 06 · final useConstruction projectThe effect shrinks with cement's share of the project cost
03 · Published context
Published low-carbon cement cost estimates vary
These studies use different technologies and cost bases. Their ranges are shown for context and do not feed the core model.
Material Economics
15–40%European large-scale cement with CCS
Large-scale production
RSC Sustainability
40–63%Mature European net-zero pathway
Mature-technology scenario
VUB
33–78%Climate-friendly cement
At least 80% direct-emissions reduction
CEMCAP
49–92%Clinker with carbon capture
Clinker cost, not delivered cement
IEA
75–150%Early-commercial near-zero cement with CCS
Regional 2024 energy inputs
04 · Explore the model
Adjust model assumptions
Cement production
Low-carbon cement premium
VUB — upper climate-friendly cement estimate
Legal share
Qualifying concrete or mortar volume
Both conditions apply to this same volume.
Final use
Downstream cost share
Sources
Evidence used on this page
Open any source for the exact locator and what it compares.
COM(2026) 100
The proposal has not been adopted. Future Construction Products Regulation acts will set the low-carbon classes. Origin follows the Union Customs Code and the proposal's partner-country equivalence rules.
Commission IA 2026
The 20% estimate is kept as an optional preset; the VUB upper estimate of 78% is used in the core scenario. The Commission's 0.10% project estimate is shown separately because it is not derived from a cement-cost share. No separate origin cost is added in the core scenario, reflecting the impact assessment's supply assumption rather than a measured zero.
Material Economics
European large-scale production-cost range. It does not determine whether a product will meet the IAA's future low-carbon class.
VUB 2024
The report defines climate-friendly cement by a large direct-emissions reduction and uses an older cement-price basis. The upper 78% production estimate and its 1.1% aggregate public-construction cost share are used in the core scenario; neither figure is a cement share for every individual project.
CEMCAP
Clinker-cost effect of carbon-capture configurations, not a delivered cement premium or a legal-compliance estimate.
IEA 2025
Production-cost range using regional 2024 energy inputs. The estimate excludes explicit carbon prices and policy support and does not vary non-energy capital or operating costs by region.
RSC Sustainability 2024
Peer-reviewed European mature-technology scenario. The implied range is rounded to 40–63%, and 50% is used only as an optional sensitivity.
Rootzén & Johnsson
Representative European downstream cost shares from a 2016 study. They are used as editable cost shares and do not describe every tender or project.
Cement Europe 2026
Trade volumes only. They do not provide a matched price premium or determine qualifying origin under the proposal.