The steel industry ranks amongst the top three CO2 (carbon dioxide) emitters from the industrial segment, and many steelmakers have set carbon neutral goals for the 2030-2050 timeframe. In general, stainless steel producers have a smaller carbon footprint than most carbon steel producers— on average about half — yet many have focused on investigating and implementing various available decarbonization approaches.
Naturally, a short-term approach for decarbonization would be focused on improvements and minor alterations in parallel to mapping out longer-term options. There are immediate actions relating to procurement, operation practice, and use of proven technologies, that can be implemented to reduce the carbon footprint. An increased use of renewable power, both directly and indirectly, is key here as well.