BuildSteel is tracking the sustainability initiatives of Steel Framing Industry Association (SFIA) members and their partners. Here is some recent sustainability news related to the cold-formed steel (CFS) framing industry.
ClarkDietrich Launches Sustainable Framing Products
ClarkDietrich, a CFS manufacturer and SFIA member, launched a new line of low embodied carbon steel framing products, offering architects and engineers greater freedom in designing sustainable buildings. The LEC portfolio includes ProSTUD® metal drywall framing system, structural steel, clips and connectors, floor framing and more.
The new offerings make ClarkDietrich the first steel framing manufacturer to offer LEC products nationwide. The Environmental Protection Agency says LEC products “have less climate impact associated with mining, manufacturing and transportation.”
ClarkDietrich’s LEC CFS is manufactured using steel coils from electric arc furnace mills, as opposed to basic oxygen furnaces, resulting in products with 30 percent less embodied carbon than their standard counterparts.
“We have a responsibility to continually increase the sustainable attributes of the products we supply,” said Adam Shoemaker, corporate sustainability manager at ClarkDietrich.
The launch of the LEC line adds to ClarkDietrich’s commitment to sustainability, having introduced the SustainabilityPRO digital tool and published its first corporate sustainability report last year.
Cleveland-Cliffs Issues Sustainability Report for 2023
Cleveland-Cliffs, a flat-rolled steel producer in North America and SFIA member, announced the release of its Sustainability Report 2023.
The report offers information about the company’s continued progress on environmental, social and governance performance for 2023. It also includes information about its achievements in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and decarbonization initiatives.

Cleveland-Cliff’s blast furnace-basic oxygen furnace greenhouse gas emissions intensity in 2023 is 28% better than the global average.
“With our GHG emissions intensity 28% better than the global steel industry average, Cleveland-Cliffs is one of the cleanest and most energy-efficient blast furnace steel producers in the world,” said Lourenco Goncalves, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Cleveland-Cliffs.
A PDF version of the Sustainability Report 2023 is available to download.
U.S. Steel Named One of the World’s Most Ethical Companies
United States Steel Corporation, a steel producer and member of SFIA, announced that it has been named one of the 2024 World’s Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere, an ethical business services provider.
This marks the third consecutive year that U.S. Steel has received this recognition, a testament to the company’s differentiated ethics and compliance programs and its ongoing dedication to its Best for All strategy.
U.S. Steel’s dedication to ethical conduct is reflected in its business dealings with clients, customers, investors and employees, all of which are characterized by the highest level of integrity.
“Being recognized as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies demonstrates how we align our S.T.E.E.L. Principles with action, each and every day,” said David Burritt, president and chief executive officer of U.S. Steel.
Additional Resources
- Update #16 | Sustainability News from Nucor, Cleveland-Cliffs and the U.S. General Services Administration
- Update #15 | Sustainability News from MRI Steel Framing, U.S. Steel and the U.S. Senate
- Update #14 | Sustainability News from Cleveland-Cliffs, U.S. Steel, and Nucor
- Update #13 | Sustainability News from ArcelorMittal Dofasco, U.S. Steel and Nucor
- Update #12 | Sustainability News from Nucor, U.S. Steel, and Steel Dynamics
- Update #11 | Sustainability News from Steel Dynamics, Cleveland-Cliffs and Carnegie Mellon
- Update #10 | Sustainability News from ArcelorMittal, U.S. Steel and Nucor
- Update #9 | Sustainability News from Nucor, Cleveland-Cliffs and U.S. Steel
- Update #8 | Sustainability News from FrameCAD, Cleveland-Cliffs and ArcelorMittal Dofasco
- Update #7 | Sustainability news from ArcelorMittal, SDI and U.S. Steel
- Update #6 | Sustainability news from Cleveland-Cliffs, Worldsteel and U.S. Steel
- Update #5 | News from Nucor, Cleveland-Cliffs and a New Low-Emissions Steel Coalition
- Update #4 | Steel Framing Industry Sustainability Initiatives
- Update #3 | Steel Framing Industry Sustainability Initiatives
- Update #2 | Steel Framing Industry Sustainability Initiatives
- Update #1 | Steel Framing Industry Sustainability Initiatives