Customer story: Stainless Steel Services

Stainless Steel Services is a leading distributor and processor of stainless steel products, supplying manufacturers and fabricators across the EU. When the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) came into force, the company faced a significant challenge: much of its inventory originates from mills outside the EU, and every tonne imported now carries a carbon reporting obligation. With hundreds of product lines sourced from multiple countries, manually tracking embedded emissions was not a viable option.

The company adopted CBAMBOO early in the transitional period to centralise its emissions data collection and CBAM reporting. Rather than chasing suppliers for data by email, Stainless Steel Services uses CBAMBOO's supplier portal to request and receive verified emission factors directly from each mill. The platform automatically maps supplier data to the correct CBAM commodity categories and calculates the embedded emissions for every shipment, giving the compliance team a single, auditable view of their entire import portfolio.

What began as a compliance exercise quickly became something more valuable. Stainless Steel Services realised that having accurate, product-level emissions data gave them something most competitors could not offer: full transparency on the carbon footprint of every item they sell. Their sales team now provides customers with detailed emissions breakdowns alongside standard product specifications, helping buyers meet their own Scope 3 reporting requirements and demonstrate responsible sourcing.

This transparency has become a genuine differentiator. Several major customers have cited Stainless Steel Services' emissions data capability as a deciding factor when awarding contracts, particularly in sectors such as automotive and construction where sustainability credentials are increasingly weighted in procurement decisions. The company has also been able to identify lower-carbon supply routes and shift sourcing accordingly, reducing both its CBAM certificate costs and its overall carbon intensity.

By treating CBAM not as a burden but as an opportunity, Stainless Steel Services has strengthened its market position while staying fully compliant. The team estimates that the time saved through CBAMBOO's automated reporting has freed up the equivalent of one full-time role, allowing them to focus on strategic sourcing decisions rather than administrative data gathering.