CBAM is changing the way we view the cost of metal fasteners
The European Parliament has voted to extend the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) to certain downstream steel and aluminum products, including screws, nuts, and bolts.
The proposal is not yet final, and trilogue negotiations are still to come. Nevertheless, the direction of European regulation is becoming increasingly clear: for companies sourcing metal fasteners from outside the EU, the cost of a component can no longer be considered in isolation from the carbon, regulatory, and supply-chain factors involved.
And this raises a broader question for manufacturers and purchasing teams:
When a fastening application does not technically require metal, is metal still the most appropriate solution?
For panels, covers, cable management systems, and many non-structural applications, plastic fasteners can offer a different approach, combining functional performance with lighter components and, depending on the application, a simpler supply chain.
This is where local manufacturing also comes into play.
At Klip-it, our technical plastic fasteners are manufactured in Western Europe, allowing us to supply customers within Europe rather than importing finished fastening components from outside the region.
When plastic meets the technical requirements, the decision should not be based on the material alone. Availability, lead times, pricing, and the predictability of the supply chain are also important factors.
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