Steel emission factors
Steel manufacturing accounts for approximately 7% of global CO₂ emissions. The two main production routes are blast furnace (BF-BOF) using iron ore and coking coal, and electric arc furnace (EAF) using scrap steel. BF-BOF steel typically produces 1.8 to 2.2 kg CO₂e per kilogram, while EAF steel ranges from 0.3 to 0.8 kg CO₂e per kilogram depending on the grid electricity source.
Why it matters for carbon reporting
For construction, manufacturing, and infrastructure companies, steel is frequently the single largest material contributor to embodied carbon. The choice between primary and recycled steel, and the specification of low-carbon steel alternatives, can dramatically change a project's carbon footprint. With emerging green steel technologies, understanding current baseline factors is essential for setting credible reduction targets.
Practical example
A modular building manufacturer specifies EAF steel with 90% recycled content instead of standard BF-BOF steel for its structural frames. The emission factor drops from 2.1 to 0.5 kg CO₂e per kg, reducing the embodied carbon of each building module by 65%.
How to reduce steel emissions
- 1Prioritise EAF (electric arc furnace) steel with high recycled content
- 2Request Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) from steel suppliers
- 3Design for material efficiency to reduce total steel tonnage
- 4Explore emerging low-carbon steel options such as hydrogen-reduced iron
Sample emission factors
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