EPD certifies 75% reduction in CO2 emissions for heavy plates from scrap-based electric steel
16.05.2024 | Ilsenburger Grobblech GmbH
Buildings and constructions account for nearly 40% of global carbon emissions. For the construction industry in particular, knowledge of its environmental impact is becoming the key to the necessary transformation of the industry. The Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) of the Institute Bauen & Umwelt e.V. provides a standardized basis for the assessment of product sustainability and is no longer limited to the construction industry. Salzgitter AG's SALCOS® program is driving forward low-emission steel production. "Green steel" produced in the electric arc furnace using scrap metal is already available via our so-called Peiner route with a significantly lower CO2 footprint. The newly released EPD demonstrates a 75% reduction in CO2 emissions compared to conventional blast furnace production.
The Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) is now available for calculating the total CO2 impact of heavy plates made from the Group's electric arc furnace production route. Developed in close cooperation with Salzgitter Mannesmann Forschung GmbH and verified by independent auditors, the document presents the environmentally relevant properties of heavy plates from Ilsenburger Grobblech GmbH and its sister company Salzgitter Mannesmann Grobblech GmbH, based on neutral and objective data. These data take into account all effects that the product may have on its environment.
Based on a comprehensive life cycle analysis, the EPD shows that the use of CO2-reduced steel, for example from the Group's own plant in Peine, saves 75% of CO2 emissions compared to the conventional blast furnace process. The slabs are produced in the electric arc furnace using scrap metal. The low-emission heavy plates have a global warming potential (GWP) of 590.9 kg CO₂ equivalent per ton - significantly lower than that of conventionally produced products. "With the new EPD from scrap-based electrical steel, we are providing our customers with a simple guide and a transparent way to compare the life cycle assessment of our heavy plates made from low-emission steel," summarizes Andreas Rost, responsible for Technical Customer Service and Development at Ilsenburger Grobblech.
Low-CO2 steel is in no way inferior to conventional steel since it has the same properties. What makes no difference in the application, however, has a decisive influence on the decarbonization of the economy. Steel is literally everywhere, and in its low-emission form it makes a significant contribution to supporting the ambitious targets set by policymakers and industry. We are currently facing increased demand for CO2-reduced heavy plates from various sectors of the economy.
The EPD is available on our website and at the Institut Bauen und Umwelt e.V..