Steel Consumer Goods

Material Composition Assumptions

The default material profile for steel consumer goods assumes BF-BOF (blast furnace - basic oxygen furnace) production, which accounts for 71% of global crude steel output:

• Iron ore: Approximately 1.4 tonnes of iron ore per tonne of crude steel
• Metallurgical coal/coke: Approximately 0.74 tonnes of coal per tonne of steel for BF-BOF route
• Limestone: Approximately 0.12 tonnes as flux material
• Scrap content: BF-BOF route uses approximately 13.8% scrap steel input
• Alloy additions: Varies by grade; carbon steel assumed as default (manganese, silicon, trace elements)

The CCI score of 2.2 kgCO2e per kg defaults to the BF-BOF route as the conservative estimate. The World Steel Association reports the global average at 2.18 tCO2e per tonne across all routes. The BF-BOF-specific figure is approximately 2.0 kgCO2e/kg (1.987 tCO2/t for Scope 1 and 2, with Scope 3 additions). The 2.2 kgCO2e/kg score includes a conservative margin for downstream fabrication into consumer goods (cutting, forming, coating, finishing).

Manufacturing Geography

The default manufacturing region is China, which produces over 50% of global crude steel.

• Grid intensity: 565 gCO2e/kWh (IEA 2024 estimate for China). This applies to Scope 2 emissions from purchased electricity used in rolling mills, finishing lines, and auxiliary systems.
• Rationale: China dominates global steel production and relies heavily on BF-BOF technology with coal-based energy. India is the second-largest producer and similarly BF-BOF dominant. EU and Japanese production includes a higher share of EAF and more efficient BF-BOF operations.

Steel is a globally traded commodity, and consumer goods (appliances, tools, cookware, furniture hardware) may contain steel from multiple origins. The BF-BOF China default represents the conservative upper bound.

Regional Variation

Region	Production Route Mix	Estimated kgCO2e/kg
China	~90% BF-BOF	2.2 (baseline)
India	~55% BF-BOF, ~45% EAF/DRI	2.0
EU average	~58% BF-BOF, ~42% EAF	1.5
USA	~30% BF-BOF, ~70% EAF	1.0
Japan/South Korea	~75% BF-BOF, high efficiency	1.8

Note: The most significant variable is the production route (BF-BOF vs. EAF), not grid intensity. EAF production using scrap steel generates approximately 0.36 tCO2/t (World Steel Association data), roughly one-sixth of BF-BOF emissions. The US has the highest EAF share globally at approximately 70%.

Provenance Override Guidance

A supplier or manufacturer may override the default CCI score by submitting:

1. Steelmaker Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) per ISO 14025 and EN 15804, or product carbon footprint per ISO 14067.
2. Production route declaration specifying BF-BOF, EAF (scrap-based), or DRI-EAF (gas-based direct reduced iron).
3. Scrap content percentage with chain-of-custody documentation.
4. ResponsibleSteel certification or equivalent third-party verified sustainability data.
5. Green steel credentials: Hydrogen-based DRI (H2-DRI) or CCUS-equipped facilities may claim scores below 0.5 kgCO2e/kg with appropriate verification.

The World Economic Forum reports that each tonne of scrap steel used avoids approximately 1.5 tonnes of CO2 emissions relative to virgin ore-based production.

Methodology Notes

• CCI score of 2.2 kgCO2e per kg represents BF-BOF crude steel production with a conservative margin for downstream fabrication. The World Steel Association reports 2.18 tCO2e/t as the 2024 global average across all routes; the BF-BOF specific value is 1.987 tCO2/t. The uplift to 2.2 accounts for additional energy in forming, coating, and finishing operations typical of consumer goods.
• Scope breakdown: Scope 1 dominates at 73% (1.6 kgCO2e/kg), reflecting the thermochemistry of iron ore reduction using carbon (coke) in blast furnaces. This is a process emission that cannot be eliminated by switching to renewable electricity. Scope 2 is 16% (0.35 kgCO2e/kg) from purchased electricity. Scope 3 is 11% (0.25 kgCO2e/kg) from mining, quarrying, and inbound logistics.
• BF-BOF vs. EAF distinction: The EAF route (scrap-based) produces steel at approximately 0.36 kgCO2e/kg, roughly 80% lower than BF-BOF. However, EAF steel represents only 29% of global production and has limitations on achievable steel grades for some consumer applications.
• Functional unit: One kilogram of finished steel consumer good, cradle-to-gate, including basic fabrication (cutting, forming, surface treatment).
• Data gaps: Consumer goods span a wide range of steel grades and fabrication complexity. Stainless steel (with chromium and nickel additions) has a substantially higher footprint (4-6 kgCO2e/kg). The default score assumes carbon steel.
• Emerging technologies: Hydrogen-based direct reduction (H2-DRI) coupled with EAF can potentially reduce steel emissions to below 0.5 kgCO2e/kg. SSAB’s HYBRIT project and ArcelorMittal’s hydrogen DRI initiatives are at pilot/commercial scale but not yet reflected in industry averages.