Steel Food Can

Material Composition Assumptions

A standard steel food can weighing approximately 300 grams consists primarily of tin-coated steel sheets formed into the can body and ends. The tinplate material represents roughly 280 grams or 93% of the total weight, manufactured from iron ore and recycled steel scrap content averaging 14% in primary production routes. A thin tin coating applied for corrosion resistance adds minimal weight but requires specialized processing. Internal polymer coatings prevent food contact with metal surfaces, while external coatings enable printing and branding, together contributing approximately 20 grams or 7% of total mass.

Manufacturing Geography

Steel food can production concentrates heavily in China, which accounts for over half of global steel output using predominantly blast furnace and basic oxygen furnace technology. The Chinese electrical grid operates at 555 gCO2e per kilowatt-hour, significantly impacting the carbon intensity of steel production facilities. This manufacturing concentration reflects proximity to major iron ore deposits, established industrial infrastructure, and cost advantages in energy-intensive steelmaking processes that require substantial electricity consumption for both primary production and downstream tinplate processing operations.

Regional Variation

Manufacturing Region	Grid Intensity	Estimated CCI Score	Adjustment vs Default
China	555 gCO2e/kWh	52	Baseline
European Union	275 gCO2e/kWh	41	-21%
United States	386 gCO2e/kWh	46	-12%
India	708 gCO2e/kWh	58	+12%
Japan	333 gCO2e/kWh	44	-15%

Provenance Override Guidance

1. Steel production method documentation specifying blast furnace versus electric arc furnace technology with actual energy consumption data per tonne of finished steel.

2. Scrap content percentage in steel feedstock with verification of recycled material sourcing and processing energy requirements.

3. Facility-specific electricity grid mix or renewable energy procurement agreements that differ from regional grid averages.

4. Transportation distance and modal split data for raw material delivery to steel mills and finished tinplate shipment to can manufacturing facilities.

5. Actual recycling rate data for steel cans in target markets with end-of-life collection and processing verification.

Methodology Notes

• The CCI score represents cradle-to-gate emissions for a standard 300-gram steel food can including tinplate production, forming, and coating processes
• Scope 1 emissions dominate at 65% due to carbon-intensive blast furnace steelmaking and direct fuel combustion in manufacturing
• Scope 2 accounts for 8% reflecting electricity consumption in steel mills and can forming operations
• Scope 3 contributes 27% primarily from upstream mining operations and methane emissions from coal extraction
• Functional unit assumes single-use packaging without accounting for food preservation benefits or shelf-life extension
• End-of-life recycling credits are excluded despite high recovery rates exceeding 70% in developed markets
• Regional grid intensity variations significantly impact total emissions given electricity-intensive steel production processes