If you think sustainable steel production sounds like a contradiction in terms, you are not alone. Or at least, you would not have been – until global steel company SSAB decided it was time for a change.
Steel is everywhere. It is part of our buildings, cars, household appliances, wind towers, bridges and much more. Yet. the steel industry remains one of the biggest contributors to global CO2 emissions. If everthing could be made using steels with a lower climate impact, 7% of the world’s fossil CO2 emissions would disappear.
SSAB aims to be the first to offer fossil-free steel to the market and largely eliminate carbon dioxide emissions from its own operations. The company’s Nordic mills are among the most CO2 efficient in the world. But that is not enough. And that is why SSAB has pioneered a game-changing shift. Using HYBRIT® technology, SSAB delivered the world’s first fossil-free steel as a proof of concept in 2021. By introducing SSAB Zero™ steel in 2023, SSAB’s sustainable offering drastically cuts fossil CO2 emissions in production, marking a major step toward building a fossil-free value chain.
SSAB has long been a leader in sustainability. In partnership with LKAB and Vattenfall, the company developed HYBRIT® technology, the world’s first fossil-free steelmaking process. Instead of using coal, HYBRIT® technology replaces traditional blast furnaces with hydrogen-reduced sponge iron, emitting only water instead of CO2. The potential impact? A significant reduction in Sweden’s total CO2 emissions by 10% and Finland’s by 7% – a testament to the potential of truly fossil-free steel.
SSAB is taking the next step in its fossil-free transformation, reinforcing its position in the steel industry. The journey begins with the transition of Oxelösund, set to become the first Nordic production site to produce decarbonized steel, including SSAB Zero™ steel and SSAB Fossil-free™ steel. This transformation continues with the construction of a state-of-the-art mini-mill in Luleå, bringing premium steel production into a new era. By 2026, Oxelösund will be fully converted, followed by the startup of the Luleå mini-mill in 2028, ramping up to full capacity the following year.
Sustainability is no longer an afterthought tacked onto corporate responsibility reports. The urgency to reduce CO2 emissions is growing, and companies that want to lead the future must act now – not later. SSAB’s high-strength steels already help customers reduce CO2 emissions across their value chain. With SSAB’s steels with virtually no fossil carbon emissions, companies will be able to push these reductions even further – knowing the materials used in their products are produced in a more sustainable way.
SSAB is revolutionizing steelmaking. By investing in decarbonized steel,and starting to use SSAB Zero™ steel which is available now, businesses can future-proof their operations and gain a competitive edge in the transition to a sustainable economy. And the shift starts today.
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SSAB Zero™ enables sustainable performance, delivering the same top quality and all other requirements you would expect from SSAB. Learn more about products made with less CO2 emissions.
Explore our webinars where we provide insights and answer frequently asked questions on how you can benefit from using SSAB’s steels with lower CO2 emissions. All webinars are free and available on-demand.
