Japan's steel industry cuts CO2 emissions with high-performance steel

Japan's steel industry estimates that high-performance steel products, such as car parts and electrical components, led to a 35 million tonnes reduction in CO2 emissions during use in FY22.

High-performance steel's rising popularity in industries like auto and shipbuilding is driving significant annual CO2 reductions. In fact, FY22 saw the biggest reduction as the current evaluation method was adopted in FY2003.

The Japan Iron and Steel Federation (JISF), in its "Carbon Neutrality Action Plan" aimed at achieving near-zero emissions, estimates that this trend could lead to a potential reduction of 42 mnt of CO2 within the next 30 years.

In FY22, over 80% of the anticipated reduction target was achieved. In collaboration with industry associations, the federation annually assesses the impact of this initiative. The program focuses on five types of high-performance steel products: automotive steel sheets, directional electrical steel sheets, marine thick plates, boiler steel pipes, and stainless steel sheets.

On 14 February 2024, a joint subcommittee meeting of the Industrial Structure Council and the Central Environment Council, both advisory bodies to their respective ministers, discussed the results of a cross-sectional analysis conducted for FY22.

The steel industry in Japan achieved a significant 23% reduction in CO2 emissions in FY22, according to data from the Japan Iron and Steel Federation. The decrease is attributed to a combination of factors, including a decline in production and improvements in the efficiency of coke ovens. It's important to note that the data covers companies participating in the Carbon Neutrality Action Plan, which account for roughly 96% of the total emissions from the steel industry in Japan.

Note: This article has been written in accordance with an article exchange agreement between Japan Metal Daily and BigMint