The US steel industry is among the cleanest, with 100pc recyclable products made entirely from recycled content, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI).
Kevin Dempsey, president and chief executive, reiterated on Earth Day 2021 that the country’s significant share of steel production occurs in electric arc furnaces (EAF). These processes use scrap raw materials and emit lower Carbon Dioxide levels. Moreover, domestic mills use iron ore pellets as compared to contaminated raw materials from other countries.
Dempsey added that innovation in sustainable steel production must continue even though America’s steel industry contributes less than 2pc of the world’s share. The industry should continue to use renewable energy and emission-reducing technology for domestic production. Sustainable processes must also include direct reduced iron (DRI) and hot briquetted iron (HBI). Downstream industries like solar panels or windmills must also leverage the use of sustainably produced steel for their finished goods.
Dempsey concluded that the Biden administration needs to advocate for approaches to recognize the American steel industry’s environmental performance and urge China to do more since it contributes 64pc of the planet’s greenhouse gas emissions.