The American Iron and Steel Institute released recommended steel industry greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions calculation guidelines to provide consistent and comprehensive data across the industry on GHG emissions from steel production, with a focus on product-level disclosures and corporate-level reporting.
The proposed guidelines are the result of a months-long collaboration with key American steel producers and Institute staff.
Accurate Information for Policymakers
“The American steel industry’s leadership on reducing emissions is well-known, but there are often disparate sources and avenues for calculating and reporting. Our industry wants to remain transparent, accurate and outspoken in our advocacy on decarbonization-related activities — and these guidelines can be an important tool to achieve those goals,” said Kevin Dempsey, AISI president and CEO.
“AISI staff researched and compiled information on how external initiatives and programs are addressing scoping and methodology for GHG emissions which has resulted in this initial set of recommendations,” Dempsey added. “A consistent set of data will help ensure policymakers and other stakeholders employ the most accurate information in their decision-making.”
The American Iron and Steel Institute GHG emission calculation guidelines provide consistent and comprehensive data across the industry from steel production. Download
Recommendations for GHG Calculations
Here are the recommendations for GHG emissions calculations:
- Calculations should include a comprehensive “cradle-to-gate” (all processing steps required to manufacture a defined product) scope analogous to Scope 1, 2, and upstream raw materials, energy and transportation Scope 3 emissions
- Calculation of direct (Scope 1) emissions should use the EPA GHG Reporting Rule methodology for U.S.-based facilities, with the addition of those facilities below the 25,000 metric tons CO2e per year reporting threshold
- Emissions from the purchase of electricity should be based on local electricity grid factors and reflect renewable energy instruments in specified instances
- Emissions should be calculated at the product level for trade, procurement and environmental product declaration purposes, while a company-wide basis should be used for corporate reporting
Dempsey said the recommendations are not intended to be a formal industry standard, but a means to inform efforts underway by American and international steel producers and others working to develop GHG emissions calculation methodologies.
SFIA Cold-Formed Steel Sustainability Task Group
The Steel Framing Industry Association (SFIA) recently launched a Cold-Formed Steel (CFS) Sustainability Task Group to help define sustainability as it pertains to the metal framing industry.
The goal of the SFIA task group is to align industry players on sustainability and take the lead in helping the industry meet the United States government’s developing green building goals for federally funded projects. BuildSteel will report regularly on the task group’s activities and continue to provide updates on the steel framing industry’s sustainability initiatives.
Additional Resources
- Update #3 | Steel Framing Industry Sustainability Initiatives
- Update #2 | Steel Framing Industry Sustainability Initiatives
- Update #1 | Steel Framing Industry Sustainability Initiatives