BLOG: The Future of Green Steel in the Automotive Industry: What's Next?
The Journey So Far
Over the past few blogs, we've explored different milestones in the Race to Green Steel. From the basics of green steel production to the role of collaborative initiatives, there's a wealth of information to guide automakers toward a green steel future.
In this final post, we’ll recap the key initiatives to eliminate coal from cars and outline actionable steps you can take to get started.
Milestones in the Race to Green Steel
Automakers are already taking significant steps to prepare for the future of green steel. Here’s a summary of the major initiatives and actions being taken:
Request an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD): Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) are like a nutrition label for different types of steel, allowing automakers to shop confidently and make apples-to-apples comparisons of the carbon footprints of each product. EPDs are transparent and independently audited to ensure they accurately reflect a product’s environmental impact throughout its entire life cycle. Requesting EPDs from your suppliers is a critical first step in understanding and reducing the embodied emissions in your vehicles.
Getting Started With A Commitment To Green Steel
Join the First Movers Coalition: The First Movers Coalition is a global partnership aimed at aggregating private sector demand for clean technologies to spur investment and decarbonize emissions-intensive industrial sectors like steelmaking. Members have committed to purchasing at least 10% near-zero steel by volume by 2030. This collective demand sends a powerful market signal to steelmakers, encouraging them to invest in green steel production.
Join SteelZero: SteelZero is a global initiative from the Climate Group that brings together leading organizations to speed up the transition to a net-zero steel industry. Members commit to buying and using 50% lower-emissions steel by 2030 and 100% net-zero steel by 2050. By making these public commitments, automakers can help drive the market for greener steel and push steelmakers to accelerate their sustainability efforts.
The Action Behind Commitment: Join the Sustainable Steel Buyers Platform (SSBP)
While individual commitments are crucial, collective action can drive more change. The Sustainable Steel Buyers Platform (SSBP), launched by RMI, is designed to expedite the availability of green steel through collaborative procurement. This platform represents a unique opportunity for automakers to push the steel industry to get off coal.
Conclusion
The path to green steel is clear, and the automotive industry is uniquely positioned to lead this transformation. By taking these actionable steps, you can align your supply chain with ESG goals, attract sustainability-minded customers, and significantly reduce health-harming and climate pollution.
Contact us today at maricela@industriouslabs.org to learn more! Together, we can build a cleaner, greener future for the automotive industry.
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