To continue contributing to the sector's sustainability, Ternium participates in a global forum on the life cycle of steel organized by worldsteel.
More than 30 specialists from the steel world met in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to analyze the environmental footprint of each stage of the steel production process, in their ongoing quest to make the steel industry more transparent and sustainable.
They work in the world's major steel companies and related organizations based in Japan, China, Brazil, Korea, the United States, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and Mexico. Among them were representatives from Ternium, who are leaders in the field.
Discussions revolved around the Environmental Product Declaration (EPD), which establishes the environmental footprint of a product from the beginning of its manufacturing process until it leaves the plant where it was manufactured. With it, the company can certify products according to the needs of its customers.
Lucía Betanzos, Environmental Director, commented that one of the most interesting topics was benchmarking trends regarding international standards for the inventory and analysis of the life cycle of steel in its different applications such as construction and automotive, two industries in which Ternium is very present.
“Our participation is very important for the definition of technical considerations in the development of standards that reflect the efforts that the industry has made to integrate co-products in the circular economy, as well as technologies for CO2 capture, and the recovery and/or utilization of process gases,” he said.
At the forum, he also highlighted the relevance that is gaining among customers the reporting of greenhouse gas emissions by steel manufacturers and certifications such as Responsible Steel or the Global Steel Climate Council. Also, the application and reuse of co-products; for example, the use of slag in the cement or asphalt production process.
Regarding the company, Betanzos added, continuous improvement is focused on the rational use of inputs and the optimization of processes, according to the Environmental and Energy Policy. Compliance with ISO 14025:2006, which includes environmental information on products based on their life-cycle analysis, makes it possible to calculate their environmental impact
Currently, Ternium has nine EPD-certified products, which facilitates the development of clear strategies and actions for environmental improvement, such as reducing water and energy consumption, as well as waste