The first low carbon steel certificates issued in accordance with the Low Emission Steel (LESS) standard were issued to European steel companies on September 17, indicating long-awaited progress in the EU's transition to environmentally friendly steel production.
LESS – currently run by the Brussels-based non-profit organization LESS AISBL - launched in 2024 and was originally developed by the German Steel Association WV Stahl in collaboration with stakeholders in the German steel industry and government authorities.
European steel companies Georgsmarienhütte, thyssenkrupp Steel Europe, Salzgitter Flachstahl, Peiner Träger, Salzgitter Mannesmann Grobblech and Ilsenburger Grobblech now have the right to label certified products with the LESS mark (see table below), which gives customers more confidence that the low-carbon steel purchased corresponds to the actual emissions reduction.
The Swedish company Stegra, specializing in the production of low-carbon steel, is currently building a steel plant for direct reduction of cast iron in electric arc furnaces powered by hydrogen, LESS joined earlier in September, and in the summer it was preceded by separate divisions of ArcelorMittal in the EU and Tata Steel in the Netherlands. LESS currently accounts for about 45% of European steel production.
Many market participants believe that LESS is a leading candidate for implementation as a regulatory framework for decarbonized steel production in the EU, which is confirmed by independent verification criteria. The European Commission should propose an official definition of "green steel" by the end of the year in accordance with the European Steel and Metals Action Plan, as well as include voluntary labeling of low-carbon steel for steel products in the guidance on closed-loop economics and public procurement.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed that the "Made in Europe" labeling criteria will also be implemented into the European public procurement policy at the high-level German industry leaders' meeting on September 18, potentially further increasing demand for EU low-carbon products if the 14% public procurement policy includes both domestic and non-domestic products., and environmental criteria.% share in EU GDP.
The regulatory definition of environmentally friendly steel is important as a mechanism for interacting with markets to ensure that purchases of environmentally friendly steel are included in decarbonization indicators and commitments.
The LESS standard uses a "sliding scale" approach for six
