ArcelorMittal expands support for the LESS green steel standard

ArcelorMittal’s plants in Belgium, France, Luxembourg, and Spain have joined the Low Emission Steel Standard (LESS), following ArcelorMittal Germany, which became one of the founders of the initiative last year. This was reported by the company’s European division.

In addition, ArcelorMittal Belgium CEO Frédéric Van De Velde has joined the LESS board of directors.

According to the company, although demand for low-carbon steel is growing, steel produced using traditional methods still accounts for the vast majority of steel produced in Europe.

LESS is a voluntary standard that supports industrial decarbonization. It has now been joined by steel companies representing almost 45% of steel production in Europe, which is a significant step towards a unified low-carbon steel labeling system in Europe.

According to Van De Velde, there is currently no industry definition or single standard for low-carbon steel. Therefore, there is a desire to see LESS widely adopted so that it eventually becomes recognized by the industry.

LESS was presented in April last year by the German Steel Association WV Stahl and the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection. The standard was created on the initiative of the industry organization and its member companies, with the support of the ministry.

LESS combines two production methods: traditional blast furnace production in the transition to hydrogen production processes and the production of electric steel from scrap, which already has low CO2 emissions. The standard makes it possible to compare the decarbonization efforts of both paths. The goal of the standard is to accelerate the transition to climate neutrality through market-based instruments.