Tata Steel Netherlands introduces recycled-content steel

Tata Steel Netherlands, the Dutch business unit of India-based steelmaker Tata Steel, has introduced steel made with 30 percent recycled content under its Zeremis Recycled brand, a move intended to address increasing demand for recycled-content steel as well as help customers achieve short-term circularity goals without compromising on quality.

The inclusion of 30 percent recycled content contributes to a reduction of 0.2 metric tons of CO2 per metric ton of steel produced, Tata Steel says, adding that the increased recycled content is achieved by adding extra scrap to the steel production process and allocating the increase to a limited amount of steel.

According to Tata Steel, the percentage increase in scrap usage has been validated by Norway-based independent classification and verification agency DNV in accordance with the greenhouse gas emission protocol and ISO standards, and the mass balance approach has been developed in collaboration with sustainability-oriented customers.

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“We believe that together with our customers, we can already take meaningful steps toward more sustainable production,” says Tom Eussen, managing director of Tata Steel Ijmuiden and member of the executive board of Tata Steel Netherands. “We are proud [to offer] Zeremis Recycled to those who want to promote circularity and retain the value of steel in recycling.

“By using Zeremis Recycled, customers can claim the recycled content at product level.”

As Tata Steel looks toward full decarbonization, it says Zeremis Recycled enables its customers to take action now, as the launch is part of its strategy to allow customers to immediately reduce their environmental footprint.

In the coming years, Tata Steel Netherlands says it will transform into a “green, clean and circular steel company,” further expanding its product offering with improved sustainability performance. Through its Green Steel Plan, which includes a 40 percent CO2 reduction by 2030 and increased circularity through increased use of scrap, the company aims to produce a high-quality product portfolio that meets customer expectations while achieving full carbon neutrality by 2045.

“Steel has a very long life cycle during which it remains in use for a long time and can be reused for generations,” Eussen says. “In pursuit of improved circularity, it is crucial that steel retains its value with every use.

“Because we believe that circularity and high-quality steel can go hand in hand, our focus is on retaining the value of the steel in use and preventing its downcycling. We see significant potential to achieve this through our existing production facilities and, from 2030, through our DRP-EAF combination, which will ensure that scrap is returned as advanced steels that meet the quality standards required by our customers.”