How can I reduce steel carbon emissions?

Prioritise EAF (electric arc furnace) steel with high recycled content. Request Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) from steel suppliers. Design for material efficiency to reduce total steel tonnage. Explore emerging low-carbon steel options such as hydrogen-reduced iron.

Materials

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.

BF-BOF steel: 1.8-2.2 kg CO₂e per kg

EAF recycled steel: 0.3-0.8 kg CO₂e per kg

Steel accounts for ~7% of global CO₂ emissions

Global steel recycling rate exceeds 85%

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