The First Batch of "China Low-carbon Emission Steel (C2F Steel)" was Grandly Released

On October 23, 2024, the China Iron and Steel Association released the first batch of 8 Chinese low-carbon emission steel products (China decarbonized ecological future-oriented steel, C2F Steel for short) at the 2024 Global Low-Carbon Metallurgical Innovation Forum, marking an important step for China's steel industry to lead the green and low-carbon development of the world's steel industry.

 At present, carbon emissions have become a new variable affecting the development of international steel. More and more downstream users have put forward procurement requirements for low-carbon emission products, and the international steel industry is also actively promoting low-carbon emission products. According to statistics, dozens of institutions or enterprises around the world are studying the evaluation standards for low-carbon emission steel, including third-party advocacy organizations, steel enterprises, financial institutions and downstream users. This inconsistency in standards has brought many troubles to the steel and downstream industries and enterprises. Against this background, the Chinese steel industry has carried out research on the "Evaluation Method for Low-carbon Emission Steel" standard and officially released it to the public on October 18, 2024. Based on compliance with international rules, this standard adheres to the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities", establishes an evaluation method that conforms to China's development characteristics and resource and energy endowment, and conducts large-scale data verification of emissions from approximately 330 million tons of crude steel production capacity. It uses hot-rolled products as the evaluation and certification unit for low-carbon emission steel, and divides the carbon efficiency into five levels, from low to high: grade E (base value), D, C, B and A, among which grade A carbon efficiency is near-zero emissions. The first batch of low-carbon emission steel released this time is based on the products released on the EPD platform of the entire steel industry chain. It is strictly evaluated based on the data review of third-party certification agencies and in accordance with the principles, methods and procedures specified in the "Low-carbon Emission Steel Evaluation Method" standard. The production process covers the long process of blast furnace and converter and the short process of electric furnace. The products involved are used in key steel-using industries such as transportation, energy, construction, and electricity. Which fully demonstrates the results of China's green and low-carbon development of steel and highlights the responsibility of China's steel to promote carbon reduction in the entire industry chain.

 The release of the evaluation method for low-carbon emission steel provides a scientific and systematic basis for downstream users to carry out green procurement. The release of the first batch of low-carbon emission steel in China provides a benchmark demonstration for steel enterprises to release green brands and low-carbon emission products.It is believed that with the strong support of all parties, It will be able to help the low-carbon transformation and development of the steel and upstream and downstream entire industrial chain and value chain in the future, and provide Chinese wisdom for the low-carbon development of the world's steel.