5 Effective Strategies for Steel Sustainability
Today’s world runs on steel, but the metal carries a hefty carbon footprint. As infrastructure projects and manufacturing grow, a more sustainable way to produce steel will be necessary to ensure a better future for the planet.
Steel production accounts for roughly 7% of all greenhouse gas emissions, and the world produces 2 billion tons annually. Thankfully, businesses won’t need to eliminate the metal from their supply chains to reduce its environmental impact — such a change wouldn’t be viable, anyway. Here are ways to make steel more sustainable.
1. Renewable Energy
The most straightforward and important strategy is to address the steel industry’s energy sources. Up to 75% of steel’s power consumption comes from often coal-fired furnaces, making iron and steel the world’s second-largest coal consumer. This reliance on fossil fuels leaves significant room for improvement from renewables.
Electrifying furnaces is the first step, and many foundries have already switched to electric equipment to save money. From there, steel manufacturers should look for renewable sources of this electricity. Rooftop solar is an elegant solution, though facilities in some areas may need to purchase green energy from other regions.
Hydrogen generators are a promising alternative. Fuel cells can work anywhere, produce no emissions other than heat and water, and avoid wind and solar intermittency problems. However, manufacturers must ensure their hydrogen comes from renewable sources, as many hydrogen-making processes rely on fossil fuels.
2. Supply Chain Optimization
Next, steelmakers can examine their supply chains. Even if smelting and refining use 100% clean energy, mining the iron and other base metals necessary is often hard on the environment. Long shipping routes may also lead to high vehicle-related emissions.
Sustainable mining is difficult, but several technologies pave the way forward. Electric equipment and hydrogen generators can reduce on-site emissions, while precision drilling minimizes environmental disturbances. Waste monitoring and post-dig rehabilitation can help companies take better care of the ecosystem around the mine to prevent damage.
Reshoring is another crucial supply chain improvement. Moving operations closer to home has a 25% to 50% decarbonization potential, thanks to lower vehicle emissions and greater insight into partners. Steel producers should also look for logistics partners using electric fleets.
3. Energy-Efficient Tooling
The transition to clean power and eco-friendly supply chains will be easier if manufacturers need less energy in the first place. Consequently, upgrading to more efficient equipment can also help make steel sustainable.
Furnace improvements are among the most impactful. Electric arc furnaces (EAFs) produce 78% fewer carbon emissions than conventional blast furnaces. As technology progresses, EAFs and similar machinery will become increasingly efficient, too, leading to even greater reductions in power-related carbon emissions.
Even seemingly minor changes can have a significant impact. Trimming steel with circular saw blades, for example, leads to lower energy consumption and faster cutting, letting manufacturers produce the same amount in less time while consuming less power.
4. Recycling and Reuse
Material reuse is another critical step toward sustainable steel. While mining may have a large carbon footprint, steel and its base metals are highly recyclable. Steelmakers would significantly reduce their supply chain emissions by turning to recycled feedstocks before ordering more virgin metals.
For this strategy to reach its full potential, manufacturers will need to work closely with downstream supply chain partners. Providing end users with easier ways to recycle steel products and streamlining the process of breaking old items down into their base materials is necessary for wide-scale recycling.
Conversely, manufacturers can reduce the demand for virgin steel by creating longer-lasting metals, leading to fewer replacements. Galvanized steel is a promising resource, as it prevents corrosion by self-healing through a zinc coating.
5. Carbon Capture
Carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) is the final piece of the sustainable steel puzzle. Collecting and storing or offsetting any existing emissions could let manufacturers lower their environmental impact before they can feasibly switch to zero-emissions processes.
CCS solutions must capture at least 90% of the CO2 from exhaust fumes to be a worthwhile investment. While this figure may seem high, some installations today can reach over 95% efficiency. Further research and development could push it even further.
Similarly, carbon offsets could buy the steel industry time before larger-scale improvements are technologically or financially viable. These solutions must only be a stepping stone, though. They’re a helpful way to reduce emissions in the meantime but aren’t green enough to be a long-term solution.
Sustainable Steel Is Possible
Much of the world’s steel is far from sustainable, but it can be in the future. Foundries already have the technology necessary to reduce their carbon footprint significantly. While industry-wide change may take time, starting today can push the world in the right direction.
These five strategies are just a few ways manufacturers can reduce their steel’s embodied carbon. Implementing these fixes today while considering further steps down the road could be a huge help to the environment.
