ACRS SCS Scheme recognised by Infrastructure Sustainability Council

The ACRS Sustainable Constructional Steel Scheme has been recognised by the Infrastructure Sustainability Council, adding to its recognition by other key industry bodies and sustainability frameworks.

This is an encouraging development for ACRS, and for the broader push to improve confidence in sustainable steel procurement.

The SCS Scheme was established to provide independent certification of the sustainability performance of constructional steel. It considers environmental, social and ethical criteria, including responsible sourcing, traceability, labour conditions, human rights, modern slavery, environmental impacts and climate-related performance.

Its purpose is not to add another layer of paperwork to procurement. It is to give project teams a clearer, more reliable way to assess the steel they are specifying, buying and using.

That is particularly important in infrastructure, where projects often involve large volumes of steel, complex supply chains and high levels of public accountability. Sustainability claims need to be capable of being checked, not simply accepted.

The SCS Scheme sits alongside ACRS’ existing product and traceability certification framework, including Stage 1 manufactured product certification, Stage 2 fabricated product certification and traceability certification for traders and distributors.

This is an important distinction. A product may be manufactured to the right standard, but the integrity of any sustainability claim also depends on what happens after manufacture. The steel may pass through processors, traders, distributors and fabricators before it reaches a project. Each step can affect the strength of the evidence behind the claim. 

For specifiers, this means certification can support both technical compliance and responsible procurement requirements.

For suppliers, it provides a recognised pathway to demonstrate that sustainability commitments are being assessed independently.

For project teams, it helps reduce reliance on unverified claims and gives clearer evidence for sustainability rating submissions and procurement decisions.

ACRS welcomes the recognition from the Infrastructure Sustainability Council and will continue to support industry efforts to improve transparency, traceability and confidence across the constructional steel supply chain.

For the market, it helps raise the standard of evidence which is essential for a construction sector that is now operating in an environment where sustainability claims are becoming more common, more commercially important and more closely scrutinised. In that environment, credible certification is not a nice-to-have, it is part of the assurance infrastructure requires to give buyers, asset owners and communities confidence in the materials being used.

ACRS welcomes this further recognition of the SCS Scheme and its role in supporting a more transparent, traceable and sustainable steel supply chain.