Decarbonizing the Ceramics Industry: Firm Responses to the EU Emissions Trading System
基于对51家欧盟陶瓷企业的调查，研究分析了企业如何评估碳定价的财务影响、采取的脱碳措施及战略驱动因素，发现受ETS监管的企业更倾向于电气化和燃料转换，而未受监管的企业则侧重循环经济。
ABSTRACT Drawing on an original survey of 51 ceramic firms across multiple EU Member States—including both regulated and unregulated under the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS)—the study provides insight into how ceramic manufacturers assess the financial impacts of carbon pricing, the decarbonization measures adopted, and the strategic drivers shaping firms' low‐carbon transitions. The survey includes firms of varying sizes and sub‐sectors, ranging from tiles to technical and advanced ceramic producers. Approximately half of ETS‐regulated firms report increased investments in energy efficiency or cleaner technologies, while others experience reduced margins, higher operating costs, or even little discernible impact. Both ETS and non‐ETS respondents have implemented at least some decarbonization measures—most commonly renewable electricity, circular economy practices, and lower‐carbon fuels—though with substantial variation across sub‐segments. ETS‐regulated respondents tend to prioritize electrification and fuel switching, whereas non‐regulated respondents lean toward circular economy approaches and considerably plan further measures in the near term. These insights could highlight the differentiated effects of the EU ETS and underscore the need for nuanced policy design and firm‐level strategies to support a credible decarbonization pathway in the ceramics sector.