As the UK strives to meet its ambitious sustainability targets, businesses in manufacturing, transport, and logistics are facing increasing regulatory requirements.

Compliance with these regulations is crucial to both reduce environmental impact and avoid penalties, but it also presents an opportunity for innovation and long-term business success(1).

For manufacturers, the Climate Change Act 2008 plays a significant role in shaping the sector’s compliance obligations. This legislation has set binding targets to reduce carbon emissions across all industries, and manufacturing is a key focus. Companies must monitor and report their carbon emissions, while also considering how they can reduce them(2).

The upcoming Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), expected to come into effect soon, will impose tariffs on imports from countries with higher carbon emissions. This will significantly affect UK manufacturers who import raw materials from the EU(3).

To comply with both domestic and EU standards, UK manufacturers will need to adopt greener production methods and possibly restructure supply chains to meet the carbon intensity levels expected.

Waste regulations are also a major concern, particularly in industries like manufacturing, where the disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous waste must meet strict environmental standards(4). Businesses must comply with regulations such as the Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011, which dictate how waste is classified, stored, and disposed of(5).

In transport and logistics, regulations such as the Road Transport Emissions Standards are pushing companies to adopt low-emission vehicles(6). The net zero strategy aims to reduce emissions from road transport, and businesses will need to comply with these rules or face penalties(7).

Additionally, new customs checks and trade barriers between the UK and EU have made cross-border logistics more complicated, introducing both compliance challenges and environmental risks due to increased travel times and transportation emissions(8).

The good news is that embracing sustainability doesn’t just help businesses comply-it also opens doors to better efficiency, cost savings, and a more competitive edge in an increasingly eco-conscious marketplace.

Bibliography

1 Transport industry: international trade regulations (Accessed May 2025) https://www.gov.uk/guidance/transport-transport-infrastructure-and-services-import-and-export-regulations

2 Climate Change Act 2008 (Accessed May 2025) https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2008/27/contents

3 Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (Accessed May 2025) https://taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu/carbon-border-adjustment-mechanism_en

4 Producer responsibility regulations (Accessed May 2025) https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/producer-responsibility-regulations

5 Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011 (Accessed May 2025) https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2011/988/contents

6 CO2 emission performance standards for new heavy-duty vehicles  (Accessed May 2025) https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/regulating-co2-emission-standards-for-new-heavy-duty-vehicles-after-transition/co2-emission-performance-standards-for-new-heavy-duty-vehicle

7 Transport Decarbonisation Plan (Accessed May 2025)  (Accessed May 2025) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/transport-decarbonisation-plan

8 Customs rules for trade with the EU (Accessed May 2025) https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/new-customs-rules-for-trade-with-the-eu/