
Steelie Awards shortlist 2024
Introduction
The Steelie Awards recognise World Steel Association (worldsteel) member companies for their contribution to the steel industry over a one-year period. The selection process for nominations varies between awards. In most cases, nominations are requested through the appropriate membership committee and the worldsteel extranet. Entries are then judged by selected expert panels using agreed performance criteria. The winners of the 2024 Steelie Awards will be announced on Monday 14 October 2024.
Nominations overview
Excellence in low-carbon steel production
ArcelorMittal Steelanol: Converting steel mill gas to ethanol
China Baowu Steel Group Corporation Limited HyCROF commercial demonstration project
CITIC PACIFIC Special Steel Group Co., Ltd Hydrogen-full oxygen-intelligent combustion
JSW Steel Limited Transition to low-emission steel production through a multi-pronged approach and transparent disclosure
POSCO Interim (‘bridge’) technologies – low-emissions feedstock blend and digital twin to support transition to net-zero steelmaking
Shougang Group Five-effects-in-one comprehensive utilisation system – integrated efficient recycling of ‘combustion-heat-electricity-water-salt’
Innovation of the year
JFE Steel Corporation Development of 780MPa high-strength steel with excellent seismic resistance and construction efficiency achieved through an
innovative heat treatment process
POSCO AlSi-coated 2GPa press hardened steel for automotive application: Innovation against hydrogen embrittlement
POSCO Innovative PosZET® Welding Technology for Eco-friendly/Lightweight/Cost-effective Auto Parts
Ternium Nitrogen and residuals control in EAF for automotive and high-end applications
Ternium Ternium steel solutions for optimised truck trailers used for freight transport
Excellence in sustainability
Aceros AZA S.A. AZA Contigo – Base recyclers
Gerdau S.A. ESG in the supply chain
HBIS Group Co., Ltd Carbon2Rock -Steel slag in situ fixed flue gas CO2 production negative carbon building materials project
Nucor Corporation Nucor Brandenburg LEED v4 BD+C Silver Certified
POSCO Odour control consulting programme for supply chain partners
Tenaris Building the first Tenaris wind farm in Argentina
Excellence in Life Cycle Assessment
ArcleorMittal ArcelorMittal LCA modelling programme
China Baowu Steel Group Corporation Limited An eco-design solution for non-LCA professionals – CFP prediction tool in the steel sector
EMSTEEL Real-time carbon insights: EMSTEEL’s LCA platform for carbon-conscious steel manufacturing
HYUNDAI Steel Company LCA-based cooperation within the supply chain of the Hyundai Motor Group
JFE Steel Corporation Low embodied-carbon green office building by adoption of green steel products, ‘JGreeXTM’
JSW Steel Limited Automation of LCI data collection process to reduce the turnaround time of LCA results and EPD declaration for stakeholder disclosures
Nippon Steel Corporation Application of LCA to corrosion-resistant steel products CORSPACE for steel bridges and port facilities
Tata Steel LCA methodology in multifunctional and circular systems
Excellence in education and training
HBIS Group Co., Ltd Promoting the cultivation of high skilled talents by establishing an enterprise training and education platform
Indian Iron & Steel Sector Skill Council (IISSSC) Recognition of prior learning (RPL) for contractual workforce
POSCO Quality-Safety-Stability (QSS) training programme
Tata Steel Enhancing and reinforcing the safety risk perception of the workforce in the organisation
Ternium Ternium Leadership Excellence Academy for Cultural Transformation
Excellence in communications programmes
ArcelorMittal Believe in Zero
HBIS Group Co., Ltd Hydrogen metallurgy project presents a steel green vision to the public
Jindal Steel and Power Limited (JSPL) Steel of India
JSW Steel Limited 25 years of JSW Steel Vijayanagar
POSCO Fantasteel
Tata Steel SteelCast podcast
Ternium Steel for the Mobility of the Future
United States Steel Corporation (USS) U. S. Steel and HGTV 2024 Smart Home Partnership
Excellence in low-carbon steel production
ArcelorMittal
Steelanol: Converting steel mill gas to ethanol
The Steelanol plant is a first of a kind in Europe, with a process that uses a biocatalyst to convert steel mill gases into ethanol. It is the first plant in the world that runs on gas from blast furnaces. The process captures the carbon in the steel mill gases and builds the carbon in into an ethanol molecule. Per ton of ethanol about two tons of CO2 emission is avoided.
The plant has been designed and built according to the latest standards in process safety design. Together with the other design requirements, this resulted in a safe, comfortable and ergonomic working environment. Within the design of the plant, integration of processes, together with maximum energy recuperation and nutrient recovery, was taken into account. No waste is regenerated, so that all inputs are recovered and or re-used in the process. This resulted in a very energy and material efficient plant with minimum use of fossil energy and resources. At the same time, the plant was designed with a high degree of automation, thus minimising the need for human interventions and therefore safety risks.
The carbon recycling technology is like retrofitting a brewery onto an emission source like a steel mill or a landfill site, but instead of using sugars and yeast to make beer, pollution is converted by bacteria to fuels and chemicals. Ancient microbes, or those found in extreme environments such as hydrothermal vents in the deep sea, have been converting carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO2) into fuel for billions of years. Researchers took a collection of microbes that were known to do this and began feeding them gases from a steel mill. In that initial screening and discovery stage, they found that an anaerobic bacterium called clostridium autoethanogenum possessed an ancient pathway that could ferment both CO and CO2, effectively converting it into ethanol under the right conditions. The ethanol product (@Carbalyst) can be used as base component in the chemical industry, for fuel, as a basis for cosmetics, clothing, paint etc. Companies with sustainable products using this type of recycled carbon include Zara, H&M, Adidas, Mebille, On, Gucci, L’Oreal, Unilever, and others.
The Steelanol plant was successfully constructed, commissioned and started in 2023 to convert blast furnace gas to ethanol. It is the first and only large carbon capture and utilisation commercial plant using steel process gases in Europe. The Steelanol plant is the flagship project within ArcelorMittal’s Smart Carbon route for decarbonisation.
China Baowu Steel Group Corporation Limited
HyCROF commercial demonstration project
Global climate change is becoming increasingly severe, and green low-carbon development has become a global consensus. The steel industry is a pillar of the
national economy and holds significant importance for the stable development of the socio-economic landscape. As one of the major sources of carbon emissions, the steel industry can enhance its competitiveness in the international market and promote the development of the industry towards high-end and green directions by promoting and applying original low-carbon metallurgical technologies.
China Baowu has established the world’s first 400m3 industrial-grade low-carbon metallurgical test platform, the Hydrogen-Rich Carbon Recycling Oxygen Furnace
(HyCROF). It has overcome major technological difficulties such as full-oxygen smelting, safe high-temperature gas heating, composite injection, gas self-circulation, and hydrogen rich smelting. This has enabled the application of efficient and low-cost CO2 capture technology for metallurgical gas, and completed the entire process of the HyCROF low carbon ironmaking technology.
In 2023, fossil fuel consumption decreased by 30% for the 400m3 industrial-grade HyCROF, demonstrating a carbon reduction capability of over 23%, and verifying the technical and economic feasibility of the HyCROF process. Currently, the HyCROF technology has been further extended to the technical transformation of Baowu‘s 2500m3 blast furnace, and it was put into operation on September 28, 2023. This marks the application of the 2500m3 large and medium-sized HyCROF commercial demonstration project, initially achieving a 27% reduction in fossil fuel consumption, a 19% increase in output, and a 16% reduction in carbon emissions.
Next, our HyCROF will achieve greater carbon reduction through projects such as green electricity substitution, steel-chemical co-production of CCUS, and hydrogen metallurgy. This will create the first long-process carbon-neutral demonstration production line in the steel industry, continuing to contribute to China’s green and sustainable development and providing practical solutions for the green and low-carbon transformation of the global steel industry.
CITIC PACIFIC Special Steel Group Co., Ltd
Hydrogen-full oxygen-intelligent combustion
Efficient and high-quality heating is crucial for the performance, quality, energy conservation, and environmental sustainability of special steel.
CITIC Pacific has initiated and completed a pioneer project for decarbonisation focused on the research and coupling application of up-to-date combustion technologies in conjunction with Germany’s Linde, Xingcheng Special Steel, Daye Special Steel, Tianjin Steel Pipe, Nanjing Linpu, Energy Conservation, and Sinosteel Thermal Energy Design Institute.
The project completed the engineering study and verification of up-to-date combustion technologies including full-oxygen combustion, hydrogen/bio-gas combustion, intelligent combustion applied in the whole iron and steel making processes concerning heating like BF and BF hot stove, ladle/ tundish baking, rolling/forging reheating, heat treatment, etc. At the same time, several pilot sub-projects for coupling application of these advanced technologies were initialed to establish optimal combustion model matching the different properties of special steels, different fuels and different media, finally helping reduction of energy consumption and CO2 emissions with the objective of ensuring product quality, so as to achieve balanced development of steel carbon reduction benefits and economic benefits. The current focus is on promoting the implementation of those technologies and advancements across the entire group, aiming to enhance comprehensive, efficient, and cost-effective carbon reduction in steel manufacturing heating processes.
One such sub-project name “Coupling application of multi combustion technologies of hydrogen-full oxygen-intelligent control in reheating process” reduced energy consumption by 41.09% and CO2 emissions by 78.26% in the reheating process. Furthermore, the project could be adjusted to 100% green hydrogen at any time to achieve zero carbon emissions of the process, finally achieving net-zero carbon production of recycled steel together with 100% recycled steel and 100% green energy.
The project provides important support for developing low-carbon products and building low-carbon brands, and sets a model for scientific and sustainable decarbonisation in steel and other energy-intensive and high-emission industries.
JSW Steel Limited
Transition to low-emission steel production through a multi-pronged approach and transparent disclosure
JSW Steel is conscious of the increasing threat of climate change and has been driving decarbonisation efforts through multiple initiatives over the last decade. We have developed a clear roadmap to reduce CO2 emission intensity by 42% by 2030 from the base year 2005. We are also committed to achieving a status of net neutral in carbon emissions from all our operations by 2050. Progressing towards these targets, we have reduced our CO2 emission intensity by 28% till FY 24.
We have taken a bold step in line with our decarbonisation commitments for 2030 with the launch of Project SEED (Sustainable Energy Environment and Decarbonisation), a large scale decarbonisation programme in two of our integrated steel plants. The programme has enabled the development of a clear decarbonisation roadmap for 2030, with over 250 initiatives identified and initiated. We have also identified potential abatement opportunities of more than 18 MnT of CO2 emissions by 2030.
With equal impetus on adapting advanced technologies and driving continuous improvement, the programme has been pivotal in driving engagement on topics like CCUS, coke oven gas injection in blast furnaces, super sinter, and others.
Leveraging plant-wide workshops, the programme so far has generated 250+
improvement initiatives, and is in the process of being deployed horizontally across our other integrated steel plants. These initiatives cover a wide spectrum of themes like expanding renewable energy capacity and integration, optimising energy and fuel consumption, exploring alternate fuels/raw materials, waste heat recovery, circularity, digital analysis, scrap charging, etc. Our innovative approach to sustainability has been recognised, with Project SEED honoured as one of the top Global Energy Transition Changemakers at COP 28.
POSCO
Interim (‘bridge’) technologies – low-emissions feedstock blend and digital twin to support transition to net-zero steelmaking
Despite the momentum to decarbonise the steel industry, large demand for sustainably produced steel remains unmet. While many projects are underway to develop ways to produce steel through less carbon-intensive processes, few are close to production at commercial scale. A radical shift in production process, e.g. H2-DRI, is likely to materialise over the long run. In the near term, the industry will have to rely on readily applicable “interim” technologies that deliver incremental but crucial emissions reductions.
Therefore, POSCO launched a project to develop a BF ironmaking technology that uses a blend of hot briquetted iron (HBI), natural gas and pellets. Used together, these three materials can maximise emissions reduction. Our study confirmed that blending the materials can reduce emissions per tonne of steel produced by as much as 16.0%, compared to the conventional BF process. Stable steel production capacity (5,970 tonnes, daily output, 1.9 mtpa BF) was validated.
This technology can be easily scaled to other BFs with minimal changes to operation parameters. The composition of the blend can be flexibly adjusted to meet customers’ cost and emissions requirements. Furthermore, the scope of raw material application can be expanded to scrap, other forms of reduced iron (e.g. low reduced iron, HBI) and hydrogen bearing gas (e.g. COG, green H2).
This project is being implemented in parallel with another low-emissions steelmaking project – the HMR70 top-and-bottom blowing converter. Ultimately, feedstock blending and HMR70 conversion technologies will operate ontinuously to support the company’s ambition to produce high-quality, low-emissions steel.
Shougang Group
Five-effects-in-one comprehensive utilisation system – integrated efficient recycling of ‘combustion-heat-electricity-water-salt’
Shougang has developed ‘hydroelectricity symbiosis’ technology with a combined cycle power plant (CCPP) core and low-temperature multi-effect distillation seawater desalination that directly couples a turbine generator unit and seawater desalination equipment to make up the world’s first ‘combustion-heat-electricity-water-salt’ ‘five-effects in-one’ energy and resource high-efficiency, step-by-step, comprehensive utilisation system. The system first uses low-quality gas combustion from steel production to produce high-temperature flue gas in the residual heat boiler. The steam produced then drives the turbine to generate electricity, forming a combined cycle of combustion engine-steam engine power generation. The exhaust steam from the turbine goes on to enter the thermal desalination plant to produce desalinated water. The primary concentrated brine produced by the thermal desalination can then be used as a raw material for membrane desalination on the one hand, and saline and alkaline chemical raw materials on the other.
Powering seawater desalination using turbine steam as a heat source increases the overall thermal efficiency of the process to 81.5% compared to just 30% via the conventional power plant pumping mode. The thermal-membrane coupling equipment modification for seawater desalination was carried out in October 2023, achieving 100% tandem connection of thermal and membrane methods, not only truly realising thermal-membrane coupling, but also obtaining a higher concentration of concentrated brine (70000 mg/L). Since the 100MW generating unit became operational in 2024, seawater desalination efficiency has been further improved with the addition of a make-up steam source and the optimisation of the steam structure.
The second phase of the 35,000t/d thermal desalination plant is the largest desalination plant in China. ‘Hai Cheng Lu’ is the pure water produced by the company. Its quality meets all the demands of China’s drinking water health standards and it is popularly believed locally to improve the taste of tea.
Innovation of the year
JFE Steel Corporation
Development of 780MPa high-strength steel with excellent seismic resistance and construction efficiency achieved through an innovative heat treatment process
As the world’s population grows, steel consumption for construction is expected to reach 1.4 times the current amount by 2050. Because large earthquakes have occurred in many regions in recent years, causing significant damage to human life and social infrastructure, seismic resistance is crucial for construction steels. From the perspective of achieving a carbon-neutral society, high-strength steel with superior specific strength, which can potentially reduce the amount of steel used, is gaining increasing interest. Therefore, steel for constructing high-rise buildings and other structures must have excellent seismic resistance and high strength.
It is known that low yield ratio (low YR) steel with high deformation properties is effective for seismic resistance. For this reason, Japan, an earthquake-prone country, initiated the development of low YR, high-strength steel with excellent seismic resistance ahead of other countries. JFE Steel supplies construction steels to the market as the HBL (HITEN Building) Series. Recently, JFE Steel successfully developed the world’s first TS780 MPa steel, HBL630, achieving both excellent seismic resistance (YR ≤ 85 %) and high strength, which had been the largest challenge in the past.
In the development of HBL630, three types of design were considered: microstructure design (microstructure control), design of heat treatment conditions utilising new equipment, and composition design. For microstructure control, JFE Steel focused on the phenomenon of formation of an Mn-enriched austenite region by a heat treatment temperature at the lower limit of the austenite range during reheating. It was possible to achieve both low YR and high strength by utilising this region as the second phase and strengthening phase. To realise this microstructure control, JFE Steel utilised Super-RQ (roller quench) equipment that was developed independently by JFE. This innovative technology allows precise control of the heat treatment temperature to control the Mn-enrichment phenomenon, and strict control of the cooling stop temperature to optimise steel properties. Composition design also allows for various types of high-heat input welding, which is key to high-efficiency welding. High-efficiency welding can also shorten the construction period of buildings, thereby reducing construction costs and energy consumption.
JFE Steel will continue to provide construction steels to realise a safe and secure carbon-neutral society in the future.
POSCO
AlSi-coated 2GPa press hardened steel for automotive applications: Innovation against hydrogen embrittlement
Press-hardened steel (PHS) is preferred for various automotive applications due to its high strength. While AlSi-coated 1.5GPa is typically used for car manufacturing, there is a substantial unmet demand for scrap-based 2GPa PHS with greater potential for automotive light-weighting. However, the application of 2GPa PHS has been hindered by the material’s susceptibility to hydrogen embrittlement (HE) and poor bendability caused by hydrogen intrusion during hot stamping.
To address these challenges, POSCO developed AlSi-coated 2GPa PHS, which increases the number of Kirkendall voids on the coating layer. These fine voids trap hydrogen, thereby improving HE resistance and bendability. This material is currently being assessed by several global automakers and parts suppliers. The reinforced PHS exhibits superior
properties to conventional 1.5GPa PHS:
1. Lower hydrogen content after heat treatment
- Conventional: 0.2-0.35ppm; dew point control is necessary
- Enhanced: <0.1ppm; regardless of the dew point.
This feature reduces capital investment and operating costs by eliminating the need for a dew point controller. The process yield is improved through stable control of the hydrogen content.
2. 2X improvement in bendability
- Conventional: 26.5°
- Enhanced: 53°
The low H2 content doubles PHS bendability prior to baking. Improved bendability helps enhance crash performance because car parts often undergo bending deformation during
collision.
3. Enhanced HE resistance
The HE resistance superiority of the reinforced PHS has been confirmed by various tests such as step load and acid immersion.
In conclusion, the reinforced 2GPa PHS can be a viable alternative to 1.5GPa PHS and lead to the development of safer, lighter and more efficient vehicles.
POSCO
Innovative PosZET® Welding Technology for Eco-friendly/ Lightweight/ Cost-effective Auto Parts
As a company, POSCO offers products and solutions that help to mitigate direct and embedded carbon emissions. The company’s solutions are designed to reduce total GHG emissions across the life cycle of a product through direct reduction of the carbon footprint and also by offering positive tools, or handprint solutions, which will help users of products and solutions to reach their own sustainability goals.
PosZET® is a handprint solution offered through our proprietary welding technology. When applied, this packaged steel and welding technology produces eco-friendly, lightweight, and cost-effective automotive parts.
A leading benefit of PosZET® is that the weight of parts is made lighter owing to the enhanced durability of the welded parts, resulting in reduced steel gauge and weight. Additionally, the parts manufacturing process is made more sustainable and cost-efficient.
First, because PosZET® technology enhances welding efficiency and productivity, less power and heat are required, thereby improving part durability and reducing total CO2 produced per component manufactured. Secondly, acid descaling, a key pre-treatment process that improves the welded part’s resistance to corrosion, can be omitted, helping to prevent emissions and to save production costs. Finally, PosZET® is immediately applicable in existing facilities; hence, customers can benefit from instant impact without the burden of heavy CAPEX.
POSCO has launched PosZET® GIGA, a welding technology customised for giga steel that offers unrivalled performance. Nissan, a global OEM, recently approved PosZET® GIGA for use in its new vehicle, underscoring its quality and cost-effectiveness.
Finally, PosZET® aligns with the company’s corporate vision to be a leading global provider of eco-friendly future materials; hence, it has been introduced as a key milestone in the company’s sustainability report and featured in the scientific journal Nature Communications.
With the demonstrated benefits of this welding technology, the goal is to pioneer future handprint solutions in and beyond the automotive industry.
Ternium
Nitrogen and residuals control in EAF for automotive and high-end applications
Due to climate change and CO2 emissions reduction commitments, steel producers have been encouraged to transition to lower carbon emissions processes. This presents several challenges, one of the most important being the manufacture of ultra low-carbon with high quality in the EAF mini mill route. This process was traditionally produced by the integrated route BF-BOF-RH, which has the disadvantage of high emissions intensity.
Techint Group, with Ternium and Tenaris as its steel-producing companies, has formed a research team to develop the EAF-LF-RH route that meets all the characteristics, technical specifications and high surface quality for producing steel aimed at high-quality steel grades markets. This involves the development of a special raw materials and operational practices that promote low residual and N2 removal in the EAF.
Since 1980, Techint Group’s strategy has been producing DRI. Using this experience, a DRI was designed and developed with tailor-made characteristics (metallisation and carbon) for the production of clean steels required by the industry and to achieve low residuals (C, P, S, Cu, etc.) and gases content (H2 & N2). Also, metallurgical practices have been developed to meet these requirements, initially for the production of API grades (seamless products & sour services) and now to adapt to the high standards of the automotive industry exposed quality (ULC).
This work includes technical developments and refined operational practices, leading to a certified process to produce high-quality steel with automotive exposed application, with the lowest environmental impact. This aligns with Ternium’s Environmental & Energy Efficiency Policy and Decarbonisation Target to achieve a 20% specific emission reduction (scope 1 and2) by 2030. These certified process and practices are currently pending several patents.
The current work includes specific operational strategies for the entire production chain; mine-pellet-DRI-EAF-LF-RH/VD-CCM, to guarantee all the technical specifications for high-grade steels. It focuses on controlling the nitrogen and residual from the raw materials, improving the process parameters to reduce the nitrogen content, and preventing nitrogen pick up all along the steelmaking process. This process is innovative, unique, consistent, repeatable, and practical, and most importantly, it meets all the requirements for high-quality applications in API, automotive, and electric steel markets.
Ternium
Ternium steel solutions for optimised truck trailers used for freight transport
Transportation of steel coils by road presents a series of challenges for the steel industry, primarily safety. We must also improve efficiency in tonnes hauled per journey and reduce the number of journeys, therefore reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.
In addressing the challenges of freight transport, two distinct steel solutions have emerged. First, specialised steels reduce trailer weight, enhancing fuel efficiency and lowering emissions. Second, wear-resistant steel solutions extend the durability and lifespan of truck trailers by combining structural and high-performance steels. Both approaches prioritise safety, efficiency, and sustainability, incorporating recycled materials to support circular economy principles and reduce environmental impact.
Wear-resistant steel solutions further enhance the durability and lifespan of truck trailers. The specialised cladding of these steels combine a structural steel with a high performance wear resistant steel to withstand abrasion and impact wear, reducing the need for frequent repairs and replacements thus ensuring continuous operation and safety while contributing to environmental sustainability by minimising material waste and resource consumption.
The use of scrap in designing these specialised steels aligns with circular economy principles. The design effectively accommodates higher scrap usage without degrading performance or mechanical properties. It achieves this by precisely managing alloying elements and controlling impurities, maintaining quality despite increased residual content. Incorporating recycled steel scrap in trailer manufacturing conserves natural resources and reduces the carbon footprint of producing new steel.
Integrating specialised steel solutions in truck trailer design and manufacture improves freight transport. It ensures safety and efficiency while embracing circular economy principles and fostering environmental sustainability. As the transportation industry balances performance with ecological responsibility, steel is a key enabler of a greener, safer, and more resilient future for freight transport.
Excellence in sustainability
Aceros AZA S.A.
Contigo – Base recyclers
Since 2006, AZA has been committed to empowering grassroots recyclers, recognising not only their tireless efforts but also their vital contribution to the circular economy model by providing the business with raw materials, including scrap steel. This programme is not just a business initiative; it is a story of collaboration and transformation, where every recycler is valued and supported on their path to a brighter and more sustainable future.
Through concrete actions such as a supplier development programme and support in refurbishing their trucks, to the informative activities of the AZA Contigo Program and the formalisation and business development workshops, this essential community has grown and thrived.
In 2023, AZA redoubled their efforts, increasing the participation of these recyclers in the direct purchase of scrap metal and thus fulfilling their commitment to further integrate them into our value chain. With growing participation, which saw 795 recyclers benefiting in 2023, AZA continue to move towards a future where sustainability and equity are the pillars of their shared success and where they look forward to continuing to professionalise the work of recyclers.
The AZA Contigo Program has grown exponentially, benefiting 795 grassroots recyclers in 2023, compared to 83 in 2020. Initiatives include workshops on business management, accounting and finance, health and safety, and the circular economy.
In 2023, administrative management and formalisation mentoring were held at several recycling centres, complemented by webinars and monthly support campaigns. An alliance with Corporación Colina Emprende enabled the certification of recyclers under Chilean laws that aims to reduce waste generation and encourage reuse, recycling, and other types of recovery, offering economic and social benefits such as cash payment.
In 2024, AZA increased their outreach and continued with training at different recycling points. AZA is currently in talks with the authorities of Colina Town Council to conduct collaborative work to develop and formalise the work of local grassroots recyclers.
Gerdau S.A.
ESG in the supply chain
Gerdau, with a 123-year history, is Brazil’s largest steel producer and has one of the lowest greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the industry. It is the largest scrap metal recycler in Latin America, producing 70% of their steel from this material. Besides producing iron ore for their own consumption in some of their Brazilian operations, they are also the world’s leading producer of charcoal for their own consumption. They manage 250,000 hectares of forest used for charcoal production and for the conservation of native forests, thereby preserving biodiversity.
Nationally, Gerdau is recognised for their advanced diversity and LGBTI+ inclusion practices. In addition, the company has set targets for women in leadership and GHG emissions reduction, both linked to the long-term encouragement of senior leaders, thus reinforcing their commitment to these issues:
- Women in leadership target: To achieve 30% of women in leadership positions by 2025, up from 25.7% in 2022.
- Decarbonisation target: To achieve 0.82 tCO2e/t of steel (scopes 1 and 2) by 2031, down from 0.86 tCO2e/t of steel in 2022 (we also have the ambition of neutrality by 2050).
In addition to this, Gerdau has a diverse chain of suppliers, and bringing them in line with our values has become crucial. They have 18,000 business partners globally, 12,000 of whom are in Brazil.
In 2023, Gerdau issued purchase orders to more than 7,900 suppliers of Supplies Brazil (in the procurement of electricity and natural gas, direct and indirect materials, and CAPEX), of which more than 2,500 have agreements and are spread throughout Brazil, which directly impacts local communities.
In order to encourage the supply chain to adopt governance, compliance, and human rights practices, as well as sustainable initiatives and exert control over their social and environmental management, Gerdau has implemented an ESG Management Journey in the supply chain, which includes the following initiatives: Inspire, ESG Clause, and ECOAR.
HBIS Group Co., Ltd
Carbon2Rock -Steel slag in situ fixed flue gas CO2 production negative carbon building materials project
The CO2 emissions from China’s steel industry are substantial, creating significant pressure to reduce them. Carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS) technology is essential for achieving carbon neutrality in the steel industry.
Additionally, China’s steel production process generates over 100 million tonnes of large solid waste, such as steel slag, which presents challenges due to its fluctuating components, high free calcium oxide content, and poor volume stability. This has led to safety issues in the building materials industry. Therefore, there is an urgent need to explore a utilisation path that aligns with the characteristics of steel slag carbonation.
This project aims to address the challenges related to carbon emissions and solid waste resource utilisation by developing a low-concentration CO2 direct utilisation technology based on natural rock weathering reactions suitable for the steel industry.
By capturing low-concentration carbon dioxide directly using steel slag without concentrated capture processes or generating wastewater, exhaust gas or waste slag (steel slag utilisation rate is 100%) during operation, this approach enables cost-effective (capture costs are down 90%) and large-scale carbon removal while producing green and carbon-negative products.
As a result, this technological path could contribute approximately 10% of the CCUS load in the steel industry, supporting low-carbon and green transformation efforts within Chinese steel companies and enhancing their competitiveness in international markets.
Nucor Corporation
Nucor Brandenburg LEED v4 BD+C Silver Certified
The Nucor Brandenburg steel mill has achieved LEED v4 Silver Certification, signifying its commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship. This certification, governed by the U.S. Green Building Council, recognises the mill’s implementation of green building practices, energy efficiency, and resource conservation and is the first steel mill to be certified under LEED v4.
The mill’s design incorporates advanced technologies to reduce energy consumption, minimise construction waste, and enhance indoor environmental quality. Key features include high-efficiency HVAC systems, energy-efficient lighting, and the use of recycled and locally sourced materials.
Water conservation measures, such as low-flow fixtures and advanced on-site water management, further contribute to the mill’s sustainability goals.
The facility also prioritises indoor air quality through the use of low-emitting materials and stringent ventilation standards. By achieving LEED v4 Silver Certification, the steel mill demonstrates its dedication to reducing its environmental impact while promoting the health and well-being of its workers and the surrounding community.
This accomplishment not only enhances the mill’s operational efficiency but also sets a benchmark for future industrial projects striving for sustainability and eco-friendly practices.
POSCO
Odour control consulting programme for supply chain partners
A number of small businesses are located close to POSCO’s steelworks and provide essential products and services to the steel mill. Many are poorly equipped to control emissions in their operations, resulting in hundreds of nuisance complaints annually. The unabated mal-odour causes distress to the neighbouring community and poses a serious business risk to the company. Any city injunction to temporarily halt odour-producing operations could put POSCO’s steelmaking business in peril.
In 2021, the company initiated a consulting programme aimed at supporting their suppliers to bolster their odour control systems and practices.
Most of the 15 project partners had poor knowledge and limited resources to address their problems. Each business has a different set of underlying odour-causing issues, e.g. source and chemistry of odorous compounds, production process, and control methodology.
The project was executed in two parts: In step 1, the company investigated all stages of project participants’ value chains, from raw material reception to finished product shipment. Researchers conferred expert knowledge to accurately identify the root causes of odour at each operation site. Then, in step 2, findings from the investigation were used to design tailored solutions, such as process adjustments and equipment upgrades.
By implementing the recommended solutions, project participants were able to reduce the average odour threshold by 59%. Additionally, the number of odour complaints registered against the industrial cluster declined by 29%. The success of this initial project served as a model for a subsequent programme that began in March 2024, in which 35 partners took part.
Tenaris
Building the first Tenaris wind farm in Argentina
Using renewable electricity is one of the critical levers to decrease the carbon footprint of steel production, and it is among the pillars of Tenaris’s 2030 plan to cut its emissions intensity.
In February 2021, Tenaris announced their plan to reduce the amount of CO2 emitted per tonne of steel considering scope 1, 2 and 3 (raw materials) emissions by 30% by 2030 compared to 2018 levels, to be achieved mainly through the increased use of recycled steel scrap, boosting energy efficiency through investments, and the use of renewable energy.
The medium-term target forms part of a broader objective of decarbonising their operations and reaching carbon neutrality as soon as technological and market conditions allow. As part of this path, in October 2023, the Buena Ventura wind farm started operations with an installed capacity of 103.2 MW of renewable energy to supply Tenaris’s Argentine seamless mill, TenarisSiderca, through the interconnected grid. This wind farm is located in a small town, Gonzales Chaves, in the province of Buenos Aires, a favourable location for wind electricity generation with a projected utilisation capacity factor of 58%.
The project is supplying close to 50% of the electrical energy required by TenarisSiderca, an integrated steel production site with a direct reduction plant, two electric arc furnaces, two rolling mills and finishing lines, with a reduction in CO2 emissions of 152,000 tonnes per year vs 2018.
The total investment has amounted to $203 million USD. The Buena Ventura wind farm provides power at a competitive price and supports Tenaris’s decarbonisation strategy due to the exceptional conditions of the location for wind electricity generation.
This project also contributes to the development of the local community as Tenaris applied their strategy to contribute to the growth of local communities where they operate.
This project is a milestone for Tenaris, a firm and clear step toward reducing emissions and contributing to sustainable steel production. At the same time, it will pave the way for a second wind farm that is expected to be operative by the end of 2025, which will add another 30% of renewable power capacity to TenarisSiderca .
Excellence in Life Cycle Assessment
ArcelorMittal
ArcelorMittal LCA modelling programme
ArcelorMittal has developed flexible LCA models that are capable of providing:
- detailed contribution analysis
- product footprinting according to multiple standards
- responsible sourcing assessment
- route specific decarbonisation potential prediction.
These evolutive models are also paving the way for the necessary integration in future automated tools.
1st Phase: Development of LCA models (cradle-to-gate) adapted to ArcelorMittal specific production lines to create a baseline representative of existing conventional blast furnace-BOF production routes, as well as existing low embedded CO2 production routes (dedicated for ArcelorMittal’s XCarb® recycled and renewable produced steel products).
2nd Phase: Verification of primary data quality, models completeness, and time-series analysis to ensure the product environmental footprints of our steel products, resulting in providing transparent environmental footprints of products for all sectors, including automotive, packaging, electrical steels, construction and general industry.
3rd Phase: Development of predictive LCA models for future decarbonised routes (full transition to renewable electricity, higher post-consumer scrap sourcing, supplier-specific emissions data, circular carbon, etc.)
China Baowu Steel Group Corporation Limited
An eco-design solution for non-LCA professionals – CFP prediction tool in the steel sector
To maintain a competitive edge, steel businesses must deeply understand the entire product production process and establish a carbon footprint evaluation system aligned with their production realities. In this way, businesses can clearly recognise their own carbon emissions, identify carbon reduction potential, and provide effective solutions for green manufacturing, green marketing and ecological design of products. However, many developers have yet to master the ability to calculate a product’s carbon footprint, crucial since the design phase determines nearly 80% of a product’s future carbon footprint. Therefore, we must start at the source, promote LCA thinking, utilise LCA tools, and encourage more people to engage in LCA practices to facilitate its widespread application. In order to achieve this goal, China Baowu has developed the ‘Baosteel product process parameter level carbon footprint calculation and ecological design system’, which can predict and optimise the product carbon footprint under different production processes, parameters and different path combinations, achieve fine guidance for process simulation, and provide data quantitative analysis and support for product low-carbon design and carbon reduction simulation.
In the market and at the client end, Baosteel is facing pressure from policies and supply chains on carbon reduction and green development. With the increase of product homogenisation competition, carbon policies at home and abroad continue to be introduced, downstream users such as Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, Siemens, etc., began to put forward specific requirements for the carbon footprint of steel products and low-carbon product supply, taking this as the access conditions for green procurement, forming new product procurement requirements, making green low-carbon development the main direction to enhance the competitiveness and viability of the steel industry. This requires
that steel product developers must consider the setting of process paths and process parameters in the R&D design stage to meet the low-carbon requirements of users.
To sum up, steel enterprises need to establish a clear understanding of the carbon footprint of the whole process of the product, popularise the use of LCA thinking and tools, develop refined carbon footprint calculation and ecological design system, so that many non-LCA professionals can skillfully use it, so as to respond to the green and low-carbon development requirements of the market and policies, and improve the competitiveness of enterprises and market response speed. These can not only bring commercial success for the company itself, but also make an important contribution to the sustainable development of the entire steel industry.
EMSTEEL
Real-time carbon insights: EMSTEEL’s LCA platform for carbon-conscious steel manufacturing
EMSTEEL’s team has deployed an online detailed LCA platform for its steel products. This digital platform implements a prompt and consistent LCA study and provides real-time GWP of its various products. EMSTEEL has also released a green steel definition for its various products and this platform is being used to ensure that EMSTEEL complies with the requirements of the green steel tag for its various products.
The LCA platform has been used to capture the environmental impact of the various products at the various life cycle stages from cradle to gate (A1 – A3). The platform allows for the tracking of the various impacts at the functional unit level and allows for the incorporation of the various energy offsets such as carbon capture and utilisation of the CO2 from the off-gases of the direct reduction plant and the IREC clean energy certificates.
Four parallel innovations led by the EMSTEEL’s LCA digital platform:
- LCA per customer order: by conducting an LCA per heat and mapping it to customer shipments, EMSTEEL achieved an LCA per unique customer order. This is achieved by calculating heat level emissions via the digital platform.
- Carbon bank: As a first step, EMSTEEL established a digital wallet to store 3rd party verified carbon credits. Secondly, EMSTEEL implemented an automated and verified mechanism to allocate carbon credits from the digital wallet to customer orders. Finally, these allocated carbon credits are retired from the digital wallet.
- Rapid green steel certification: Leveraging an LCA platform ensures real-time (thirdparty) verified ISO certificates. This removes manual data intervention.
- Blockchain: All transactions related to the carbon bank, LCA certificates, and audit logs are digitally recorded on a blockchain ledger, ensuring the highest level of transparency and traceability.
HYUNDAI Steel Company
LCA-based cooperation within the supply chain of the Hyundai Motor Group
The role of Hyundai Steel in the Group’s automotive supply chain is to provide information and projections for the CFP of steel materials required by automakers, as well as planning low-carbon steel products to produce carbon-reduced automobiles.
1) CFP calculation considering steel grades:
- Analysing the correlation between steel grades’ CFP and input elements
- Finding the correlation between steel grades and tensile strength
- Collecting information about steel-making heats on MES
- Calculating CFP for each steel grade
- Developing a system module to calculate steel grades’ CFP (which is a submodule in the Hyundai Steel LCA system (HLCA)).
2) Establishment and simulation of methods to assess low-carbon products’ CFP:
- 3rd party verification on the CFP calculation methods for the EAF-BF combined process (2022).
- CFP simulation for each operation conditions of the EAF-BF combined process (2023).
- Roadmap establishment to develop Hyundai Steel’s low-carbon products (2023).
- Product mapping for each operation condition (2024).
- Operation of a consultative body between Hyundai Motor and Hyundai Steel, reflected in automotive LCA & the roadmap (in progress).
JFE Steel Corporation
Low embodied-carbon green office building by adoption of green steel products, ‘JGreeXTM’
Nearly 40% of CO2 emissions by industry are attributable to the construction sector, and 30% of this sector are attributable to embodied carbon generated during deconstruction and demolition of buildings.
Demand for environmentally friendly buildings is increasing for the achievement of decarbonisation. Therefore, it is urgent to establish the reduction strategy of embodied carbon. Scope 3 reduction by optimisation of procured construction materials would be effective in reducing embodied carbon, but the reduction strategy had been unclear.
In order to reduce CO2 emissions throughout the life cycle of buildings, LCA methods based on ISO/EN standards were applied. It was found that steel materials account for a large proportion of embodied carbon. Then, JGreeXTM was adopted, a green steel with reduced CO2 emissions. In addition to that, an environmentally friendly concrete CELBIC was adopted for CO2 emissions reduction. As a result, CO2 emissions were significantly reduced.
Through this LCA analysis, the concept of circular economy was first applied to the recycling process of building; building wastes were finally recycled as building materials, even after a building was demolished and disposed at the end of their life. As a result, CO2 emissions during the entire life cycle were evaluated appropriately and the environmental value of the building was increased.
JSW Steel Limited
Automation of LCI data collection process to reduce the turnaround time of LCA results and EPD declaration for stakeholder disclosures
LCAs consist of four steps based on the ISO14040 and ISO14044: the goal and scope phase (e.g., definition of system boundaries), the life cycle inventory analysis – LCI (e.g., data collection of input and output data), the life cycle impact assessment (conversion into environmental impacts) and the interpretation (evaluation of results).
As the most time- and resource-intensive, the second step in an LCA, the LCI, deals with information and data collection for creating the processes needed for the LCA study. Information collected for the product system typically covers a considerable volume of data, including the flows to and from processes. This involves elementary flows (resources and emissions but also land use), product flows (goods and services as products in a process) or waste flows. Traditionally this is a manual process, wherein templates are developed for each process and unit such as sinter 1, sinter 2, pellet 1, pellet 2, blast furnace and so on. The templates are manually filled from various sources. This is a time consuming process as a number of stakeholders are involved and the chances of error are very high. Post collection of this huge amount of data especially in an integrated steel plant the data is validated to ensure accuracy, reliability, and consistency. This process and step was time consuming and led to several iterations to ensure data quality.
Considering the potential need to provide to the market clear, credible and precise information in a transparent manner, JSW Steel embarked on an organisation wide implementation of data automation project which effectively eliminated the need for Excel spreadsheets and manual intervention, streamlining processes and ensuring data accuracy.
JSW Steel has integrated the SpheraCloud- Corporate Sustainability (SCCS) platform with its operations, thereby resulting in a reduction in data reporting time, increase in precision, completeness, consistent, reproducible and reduction in uncertainty measurement. This data lake is the single source for LCI and all other disclosure requirements. This dynamic framework implementation has been unique in nature to configure the sites at lowest granular level i.e. process level for automated data capture from various ERP and legacy systems.
Nippon Steel Corporation
Application of LCA to corrosion-resistant steel products CORSPACE for steel bridges and port facilities
Nippon Steel has developed a steel product capable of inhibiting corrosion from defective portions of the coating film under severe corrosive environments (high salt content). Compared to conventional products, this product can reduce the number of re-coatings of corrosion-prevented steel bridges to 1/3. We quantified this effect using LCA and utilised it in the sales of the product. As a result, it was extremely helpful for customers to understand the effectiveness of the product.
The design standards for bridges on highways in Japan and the data book of the Japan Bridge Construction Association pointed out the Life Cycle Cost reduction effect of the product’s high durability and its excellence in terms of LCA, and recommended the product as a new technology.
The use of the product can extend the repainting cycle of painted bridges in salt-affected environments by two times. As a result, the number of coating cycles can be reduced from three to one for bridges to be used for 100 years. This can reduce GHG emissions related to corrosion protection by about 46% over the life cycle of the bridge. The results also showed that although the initial construction cost of steel increased by 2%, the life cycle cost of the bridge could be reduced by 75% due to the reduction in the number of coatings.
Due to the high corrosion resistance of the product at paint defects, the LCA related to corrosion protection was quantified from the perspective of reducing the environmental impact by reducing the frequency of painting, and this was demonstrated to the customer.
Tata Steel
LCA methodology in multifunctional and circular systems
Tata Steel has long recognised the importance of exploring multiple avenues to influence the development of robust LCA methodology for legislative and commercial applications. This has also included participation in relevant collaborative projects e.g. the COZMOS EU funded project, which concluded in October 2023 and in which Tata Steel took the lead role in the LCA Work Package. This project was focussed on Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU), which required the development of novel LCA thinking and approaches for multifunctionality and circular economy.
In seeking to further the discussion with the broader LCA community (a key influencer in shaping policy and regulation), Tata Steel proposed a session on ‘Circularity, Recycling and Multi-functional Systems’ at SETAC Europe Annual Meeting, Dublin, May 2023, along with leading academics Professors Tomas Ekvall and Jon McKechnie and Dr Cecile Bessou. The idea was accepted and the session ran successfully, with around 70 participants. Tata Steel provided one of the Chairs for the session and also made a platform presentation (‘Exploring Life Cycle Assessment Methodologies for Multi-functionality in the steel sector with a CCU example’), disseminating some of the thinking emerging from, amongst others, the COZMOS project. The primary findings were that whilst the application of LCA to CCU can help support decision making and prioritising different technologies and CCU products, there are a number of methodological issues in dealing with CCU within LCA.
A significant first for the company (and, as far as we are aware, a rarity for the steel industry as a whole), a paper authored by Tata Steel was published in the International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, the foremost journal worldwide for methodological development and LCA studies.
The final element was manifested in the leadership role taken by Tata Steel personnel in developing methods and guidance on how to account for reuse and remanufacture in circular product systems. This involved setting up a Task Force, led by Tata Steel, to understand the different approaches being applied across sectors & regions and propose some methods that were interoperable with established LCA standards depending on the goal and scope of the study.
Excellence in education and training
HBIS Group Co., Ltd
Promoting the cultivation of high skilled talents by establishing an enterprise training and education platform
HBIS Group attaches great importance to the cultivation of high skilled talents and the cultivation of ‘craftsmanship spirit’, always adhering to the concept of ‘employees are the irreplaceable competitiveness of the enterprise’.
In order to continuously strengthen the improvement of employee quality, cultivate more high skilled talents to promote the transformation and upgrading of the group and high quality development, HBIS Group built a training and education platform for the ‘HBIS Cup’ Employee Vocational Skills Competition in September 2023, which integrates online learning, simulation training, competition selection, mentorship, technical exchange, and specialised training. This project provides skilled talents with comprehensive and multilevel training resources from basic theory to practical operation, from individual skills to comprehensive application. It not only covers professional courses for key occupations such as converter steelmaking, metal rolling, and tool fitting, but it also promotes skill exchange through interactive activities such as simulation competitions, online exchanges, and expert guidance, which promotes the scientific and standardised sustainable development path of Hebei Iron and Steel’s skilled talent training.
Indian Iron & Steel Sector Skill Council (IISSSC)
Recognition of prior learning (RPL) for contractual workforce
Currently some critical activities at steel plants are outsourced to contractors who engage a contractual workforce. These workmen often have a limited educational background and are self-taught. They do not have any quality evaluation of their knowledge acquired during their working life.
Recognition of prior learning (RPL) is a skill certification to enable Indian youth to take on industry relevant skill certification which will help them to secure a better livelihood. It is a 2-day programme consisting of two parts, training (orientation) and assessment. To address knowledge gaps, this RPL programme offers 12 hours of orientation which includes domain skills in vocations such as electricians, machinists, fitters, welders, riggers, crane operators, and safety workers etc., as well as soft skills in communication, group working. There is then a 4-hour assessment process. The training is conducted either by the supervisors of the plant after undergoing IISSSC’s ‘Train-The-Trainer’ programme or by experienced trainers engaged by IISSSC. After assessment, the successful candidates get a recognised certification from the Indian government.
The main objectives are to establish an outcome-driven implementation framework which evaluates and recognises skills and knowledge outside the classroom (informal learning or learning through work), and helps people get their doubts clarified and acquire a formal skill qualification that matches their knowledge and skills and if required upskills/reskills (through bridge courses) and thereby contributes to improving their employability, lifelong learning, social inclusion, and self-esteem. The company gains through rise in productivity contributed by motivated and enthusiastic employees.
POSCO
Quality-Safety-Stability (QSS) training programme
Our steelworks have been visited by many political and business leaders, artists and journalists. A resounding comment heard from our guests regards the cleanliness of the mills and the plant complex.
The secret to keeping the facilities clean and organised lies in the Quality-Safety-Stability (QSS) programme, which invites every employee across different functions to identify operational issues on site and be part of the solution.
The QSS training programme equips all employees, from new hires to top management, with effective tools and methodologies to rapidly tackle issues such as inefficiency, redundancy and workplace hazards. Trainees learn how to apply proven improvement practices to tackle operational risk factors that could impact productivity and the working environment. Three features differentiate the QSS training programme from conventional operator training programmes.
First, rather than being one-off, learning modules are designed for each career level and delivered to employees throughout their professional life. The continuous training helps to ingrain our original approach to problems in the organisation.
Second, the programme contributes to generating tangible and immediate business outcomes by streamlining procedures and preventing duplication of resource use.
Third, the programme has attracted broad participation, which suggests replicability to other worldsteel members, big and small. For example, the Improvement Leader Course of the training programme was completed by 1,325 SME employees, 1,528 individuals from business groups of other industries, and 14,654 from our workforce.
Tata Steel
Enhancing and reinforcing the safety risk perception of the workforce in the organisation
Tata Steel’s safety training programme exemplifies a comprehensive and innovative approach to workplace safety, targeting a diverse workforce across numerous locations. This programme, based on the 4E approach—education, engagement, enforcement, and evaluation—focuses on building safety competency and culture. Through structured learning interventions, over 40,000 employees and 74,664 contractor employees have received safety training, covering 71% of the workforce.
The programme’s uniqueness lies in its overall approach and components like interactive e-modules, NEBOSH-certified process hazard management training and the ‘Ghar Se Ghar Tak’ programme, engaging employees’ families to foster safety both at work and home. World-class facilities like the Safety Leadership Development Centre (SLDC) and Practical Safety Training Centre (PSTC) provide immersive learning experiences.
Enforcement is reinforced by linking safety module completion to promotions and gate pass renewals, ensuring universal compliance. The programme’s scalability and effectiveness make it a model for other organisations, offering a blueprint though Tata Steel Industrial Consulting. Its value is underscored by significant cost savings from reduced incidents, improved safety culture and enhanced operational efficiency.
This has resulted in a significant drop in the lost time injury frequency rate (LTIFR) over the past year, from 0.43 to 0.39, along with prevention of 41 serious incidents, smoother operations and increased productivity despite the integration of 20,000 new employees in the system due to amalgamations of various entities.
Tata Steel’s safety training program significantly enhances business performance by minimising operational disruptions, improving compliance, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation, aligning with the company’s zero-harm and sustainable growth goals.
Ternium
Ternium Leadership Excellence Academy for Cultural Transformation
The steel industry is currently facing important challenges that force it to constantly adapt, requiring agility and flexibility.
Some of these challenges are the transition to sustainability and carbon footprint reduction, volatility in raw material markets, innovation and digital transformation, global competition and protectionism, and a constant change in market demand. All of this in a context where the need for specialised talent is increasing, and where the constant evolution of the labour market (e.g., the talent war for nearshoring or labour reforms) makes talent retention a recurring topic on the agenda of leaders.
In this global context, Ternium continues to consolidate its regional leadership with the expansion in Mexico and the integration of Usiminas, all within a “One Company” model in which the need for agile management structures, together with the challenge of achieving greater commitment and strengthening our employer brand, become crucial.
To meet these challenges, it is essential to work on a cultural transformation agenda, with leaders as the driving force for change, taking responsibility and being the vehicle through which this transformation takes place at all levels of the organization. The guiding axes of this transformation are evolution of organisational culture, talent sustainability, engaged performance, and the leadership system.
Excellence in communications programmes

ArcelorMittal
Believe in Zero
Safety has always been ArcelorMittal’s number one priority and is one of our four values. Yet, this has not always been reflected by our safety performance. Efforts to address our performance have accelerated in recent years and we are progressing on our journey to become a serious accident free and fatality free company. We need to reach zero. Zero fatalities. And zero serious accidents.
There are many ways to reach zero, but they all start with belief. If we do not believe zero is an achievable outcome, we will never reach it. We know that belief is of course not enough by itself. It needs to be supported by rigour, hard work and commitment, every single day.
Belief. Commitment. Action. These are the driving forces behind the ‘Believe in Zero’ campaign. A long-term, global internal safety communications campaign (created by the corporate communications team at ArcelorMittal) with the objective of engaging, inspiring and educating employees, to make them think about health and safety at all times, challenge them to change their behaviour, reduce their risk tolerance and, most importantly, to make a positive contribution to our ambition to be a fatality and serious injury free business.
The campaign launched officially on our annual health and safety (H&S) day in April 2024 with a series of films investigating what ‘Believe in Zero’ means to our employees globally and the mindset shift required to truly believe that zero fatalities and zero serious injuries is possible, the behaviours that make it so, and the actions and rigour that people need to approach their work with – every single day – to maintain excellent levels of safety.
The films were shot at three sites (in Brazil, South Africa and Belgium), each at a different stage in their safety journey and featured people at different levels, from CEOs, to shop floor workers, to health and safety leaders. This was deliberate: safety is everyone’s responsibility, everyone is a leader when it comes to safety, and everyone has an important role to play. Translated and produced into several languages, the films were cascaded across the business to be played at all sites on H&S Day. They were promoted via internal channels – our intranet, mass company emails, and via our global communications and H&S networks – and for the first time in several years were shown externally, via our corporate LinkedIn channel and corporate website.
HBIS Group Co., Ltd
Hydrogen metallurgy project presents a steel green vision to the public
Tackling climate change is the responsibility of all humanity. As the most important material in the history of human civilization, steel needs us to jointly build a green future.
HBIS Group is taking responsibility and is manufacturing green steel for human civilization by implementing the world’s first 1.2 million tonne hydrogen metallurgy demonstration project of coke oven gas and zero retrofit vertical furnace direct reduction, which is the first example of hydrogen as a large-scale industrial production energy application.
To show the bright future of green steel, HBIS Group has planned and implemented the “Hydrogen Metallurgy Demonstration Project Communication Project.” Through cooperation with the public media, influential news reports have been launched and international academic exchange platforms have been set up. Live exhibitions and other forms of communication activities have shown the huge emission reduction advantages and bright prospects of hydrogen metallurgy, subverting the traditional image of iron and steel companies as being deeply reliant on traditional fossil energy and carbon emissions, and enhancing society’s confidence in iron and steel companies to rid themselves of the shackles of fossil energy and promote global sustainable development.
Jindal Steel and Power Limited (JSPL)
Steel of India
Jindal Steel and Power Limited is the third-largest steel manufacturer in India. The overall objective of the STEEL OF INDIA campaign was to extend the brand’s prominence beyond industry realms, thereby fostering an authentic resonation with diverse audiences. This alignment with national ethos would signify a unified commitment to the country and its people. And thus arose the biggest challenge: how do we make steel, which is largely invisible, meaningful to the people at large, and create something memorable?
Through the proud, bold, steely sound of India, this film, beat-by-beat, connects people from diverse walks of life, who just like steel are synonymous with the nation’s progress. It celebrates the nation’s diversity by telling a resounding tale of unbreakable resilience backed by a soundtrack made out of steel. Juxtaposing the diverse realities of modern and rural India, from micro to macro, it travels from the steel factory to the heartland of India, to pay a homage that is raw, authentic and culturally nuanced.
The film’s excellence was duly recognized with Silver and Bronze medals at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity

JSW Steel Limited
25 years of JSW Steel Vijayanagar
Built upon dreams and dedication, our Vijayanagar plant has shaped the Indian Steel story over 25 glorious years. Today JSW Steel’s Vijayanagar Steel Plant is the largest single location steel plant in India. To mark this special occasion, we wanted to celebrate the vision and hard work of every single individual who made this milestone possible. But more importantly, we also wanted to set a benchmark for our other plants spread all over India and the world. The message was simple: when the right people, the right intent and the right values come together, 25 years is more than enough to forge an institution that touches millions of lives every day.
Starting in August 2023, we began a multi-media campaign across platforms that would carry our message far and wide. The campaign consisted of the following activities:
- Setting up of a countdown clock at the JSW Steel Vijayanagar premises.
- Setting up billboards commemorating the 25th anniversary across Vijayanagar.
- Issuing commemorative coins as souvenirs to more than 10,000 employees and stakeholders.
- Inaugurating the JSW Group Experience Centre at our Vijayanagar premises.
- Issuing a limited-edition coffee table book commemorating 25 years of JSW Steel Vijayanagar.
- Hosting a 7-day mega celebration event at Vijayanagar.
- Inauguration of Hampi Art Labs – a cutting-edge galley and artist residency in Vijayanagar.
- Creating a 25th anniversary-themed annual planner sent to over 40,000
individuals. - Commissioning ‘JSW: Architect of Dreams’, a documentary by National Geographic that took our 25-year journey to the entire nation.
- Social media outreach
Today, JSW Steel Vijayanagar is not just India’s largest single-location steel plant. It is also an icon of progress and nation-building. Through this programme, we have managed to rally our talented workforce and make them take renewed pride in their immense contributions. But more than that, we have managed to convey to the youth of India that if they dream big and work hard – everything is possible.

POSCO
Fantasteel
To mark 50 years of the commissioning of its first steelworks, POSCO launched an advertisement campaign to promote the “value and sustainability of steel.” In particular, the project defined the younger generation in their 20s and 30s, as the key audience. First, this demographic constitutes one-half of POSCO’s workforce; hence it is important to speak to this population and to make them feel valued. Secondly, as a B2B business, general consumers have little contact with our company; this lack of connection is especially pronounced among younger generations. Hence, we wanted to promote appreciation for and familiarity of POSCO and our steel products.
To shed the heavy and monotonous impression of steelmaking, POSCO aimed to rebrand steel as an outcome of cutting-edge technology. Additionally, by taking advantage of the rapid traction gained by E-Sports among the 20-30s, we decided to fuse the two unlikely domains of steel and video games to launch a gamified ad campaign. The ad, named “Fantasteel,” sought to transform the perception of steel from dull and uninteresting to attractive and engaging, qualities often attributed to video games. Fantasteel became Korea’s first corporate ad produced in collaboration with a video game publisher.
The resounding message of the ad is that the “incredible steel-making technology” is what ensures peace in the world. To substantiate, a variety of POSCO’s steel products are showcased as technological ammunition for battle in a fantasy world: GIGA steel, our ultra-high-strength steel; Multi-Material, a product that combines the strength of steel with the light-weight quality of aluminum; non-combustible color steel; high Mn Steel that withstands extremely low temperatures. The story concludes by highlighting that POSCO’s technology prevails in advancing human civilization.
Touted as unique and unconventional by the advertising society, the ad is available on POSCO’s YouTube channel and on Instagram among other social media platforms.
Tata Steel
SteelCast podcast
When Tata Steel UK formally announced its intention to move from blast furnace-based steelmaking to a low CO2 production method, it was critical to gain the buy-in of key stakeholders by helping them understand the rational for change, the challenges and opportunities it presented, and the positive impacts the transformation will have on different groups.
It also presented an opportunity for Tata Steel UK to position itself as an industrial thought-leader and to bring a holistic approach to the discussion by including diverse stakeholders that included people from within Tata Steel, customers, politicians, academics and the wider industry.
Tata Steel UK’s communications team decided that its pre-existing SteelCast podcast would be an ideal channel to reach people inside and outside the organisation, the format of which allows for long-form, in-depth but consumer-style content.
Now two years and 30 episodes on, SteelCast has become the core industry resource for information about decarbonising the steel industry in the UK, referenced by media, thinktanks and politicians alike. With over 12,000 listens to date, SteelCast’s growing reputation has encouraged some of the most senior business leaders to join as guests, including Tata Steel Group CEO and Managing Director TV Narendran, and Chairman and CEO of American company Steel Dynamics Inc, Mark Millett.
SteelCast is hosted on all the major podcast platforms and has been promoted internally through emails, intranet and Viva Engage, and externally across the full range of social media channels. As the series developed the decision was made to also video the interviews and post on YouTube – the algorithms mean content is brought to a much wider audience of people already interested in industry and technology. This has significantly increased reach, engagement and impact.
SteelCast has been selected by Feedspot as the number 1 of 175 steel-related podcasts in the world: ‘3 Best Steel Industry Podcasts You Must Follow in 2024 (feedspot.com).’
Ternium
Steel for the Mobility of the Future
During this year, Ternium in Mexico focused on establishing “the mobility of the future” as its main axis of communication. To achieve this objective, it selected the phrase as its tagline and created a website that clearly stated the role of steel in the automotive industry, which was showcased through a variety of communication materials, as well as with strategic partnerships with top universities.
At the announcement of the location of Ternium’s most important green field investment to date – one of the most modern steel shops in the world – we decided to create a campaign that frames steel as a key material for the mobility future. This way, from its origin, the objective of this plant and its strategic role in the development of the region are clear. We chose not to do a traditional press release but to create a campaign that highlights the role of our steel in mobility, involving strategic partners at each touchpoint who share this objective, such as the main universities of Nuevo León, and WorldAutoSteel.
With a very descriptive phrase accompanied by an illustration of a steel coil transforming into an electric car, we captured our vision of the steel industry: modern and appealing to the general public. This artwork has allowed us to position ourselves as a company that does things differently and brings the value of steel closer to the end user, both at its launch and in the subsequent events.
The new steel shop will be the most emblematic project of the third phase of the Ternium Pesquería Industrial Center, representing an investment of nearly $3.5 billion USD.
United States Steel Corporation
U.S. Steel and HGTV 2024 Smart Home Partnership
U. S. Steel partnered with customer McElroy Metal to supply the steel roof for the 2024 HGTV Smart Home. As a supplier of the steel roof, we spotlighted our industry leadership and commitment to sustainability through infinitely recyclable steel. By emphasising steel’s benefits like durability and aesthetics, we aimed to educate consumers on its advantages for roofing solutions.
Home & Garden Television (HGTV), is a popular cable and satellite television network that focuses on home improvement, renovation, and decorating content. It reaches a broad audience interested in home-related topics. By leveraging HGTV’s wide reach and engaged audience, we can enhance brand visibility among homeowners, DIY enthusiasts committed to creating, building and repairing things without the assistance of professionals, architects, interior designers, and home builders. The benefits of partnering with HGTV included:
- Exposure to target audience: HGTV has a vast viewership primarily interested in home improvement, renovation, and design. Partnership gives us brand exposure to a highly relevant audience actively seeking products and solutions for home improvement projects, including steel roofing.
- Credibility and trust: HGTV is a trusted authority in the home improvement industry. Connecting our brand with HGTV gives credibility to steel roofing, reassuring consumers of the positive attributes of steel for their home.
- Market expansion: HGTV’s reach extends beyond traditional television, with digital platforms, streaming services, and international distribution. Partnering with HGTV helps expand market reach, potentially tapping into new demographic and geographic regions that align with HGTV’s audience base.
- Consumer engagement: HGTV viewers are often highly engaged with content, seeking inspiration and advice for their home improvement projects. Partnering with HGTV can facilitate direct engagement with these consumers to raise awareness of the benefits of steel roofing.
