BIR paper challenges green steel certification standards

As policymakers around the world define what constitutes "green steel," the Bureau of International Recycling (BIR) is urging a fair and science-based approach—one that accurately reflects emissions performance and ensures that the full benefits of recycling are recognized in the transition to a decarbonized steel sector.

Green steel, greener problems

In its latest position paper, BIR warns that current methodologies, particularly those using sliding scale or benchmarking approaches, risk labelling higher-emission steel, often produced from virgin raw materials, as green, while overlooking steel made from recycled content via electric arc furnace (EAF) technology. This not only undermines transparency but also risks misdirecting incentives and public procurement funding away from genuinely low-carbon production routes.

BIR stresses that definitions of green steel should be based on total lifecycle emissions, not just production method or feedstock origin. The organisation also calls for public procurement rules to actively support circularity by requiring minimum recycled content in steel used for public construction, transport, and infrastructure projects.

BIR highlights the risk of trade barriers that limit the cross-border flow of recycled steel. These can disrupt global supply chains, reduce recycling rates in exporting countries, and delay the deployment of circular steelmaking solutions in key markets. The organisation urges policymakers to resist such restrictions and instead focus on creating enabling conditions for sustainable production.

BIR is calling for the following policy actions:

• Ensure green steel standards are based on actual, measurable emissions
• Reject export restrictions on recycled steel, which hinder global decarbonization
• Use public procurement and incentives to reward low-carbon, circular steel
• Invest in better collection and sorting infrastructure to increase recycling rates
• Include the recycling sector in green steel policymaking and standard-setting

"Steel made from recycled materials via EAF technology can cut emissions by up to 74 percent compared to traditional blast furnace production," says Susie Burrage OBE, president of BIR. "It is crucial that policy frameworks properly reflect this reality. We are not asking for special treatment, but for a level playing field—where environmental claims are backed by real data, and where the role of recycling in decarbonisation is fully valued."

Arnaud Brunet, director general of BIR, adds: "Public policy has a critical role to play in scaling up low-carbon steelmaking. However, this must be done with a clear understanding of the benefits of recycling. Global trade in recycled steel is essential to ensuring supply to producers committed to decarbonisation, and restricting it only slows progress."

"The recycling industry is a key partner in the transition to a cleaner, more circular economy," Burrage adds. "Getting the green steel framework right is not just about fair competition—it's about making sure the policies we adopt truly deliver on their climate and resource-efficiency promises."