A breakdown of what “green steel” is all about
Why “Green Steel” Is on Everyone’s Lips
Look around you. What do you see? Buildings, cars, bridges, maybe even the phone or computer you’re reading this on. Steel is We rely on steel for almost everything, but producing it accounts for 7–9% of global CO₂ emissions (Carbon Trust, 2023). As pressure to decarbonize grows, the question is no longer if steel can go green, but how the industry defines what “green” truly means.
That is where events like the annual conferences organized by the Arab Iron & Steel Union (AISU) come in. These events are more than a networking opportunity; they are a forum to generate quantifiable data, set metrics, establish standards and certifications that will shape the steel supply chain.
How much steel surrounds our daily lives, and at what cost? From the buildings we live in to the cars we drive, steel underpins modern civilization. Yet producing it still accounts for an estimated 7–9% of global CO₂ emissions (Carbon Trust, 2023). Steel sits at the crossroads of necessity and responsibility, a material the world can’t live without, but one it must urgently decarbonize.
This is where industry forums such as the Arab Iron & Steel Union (AISU) play a pivotal role. Beyond networking, these gatherings represent a necessary step toward standardizing what “green” actually means in practice, generating data, harmonizing metrics, and encouraging regional producers to disclose verified results. As global carbon-border policies tighten, platforms like AISU are critical for ensuring that the region’s steel industry speaks a common, credible language of sustainability.
The Building Blocks of Green Standards: What they really mean
The definition of green steel is gradually evolving. At its essence, buyers and regulators are looking for evidence of lower emissions per tonne of production and disclosures that can be withstand international scrutiny under frameworks such as the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (European Commission, 2025). Energy sources also matter. Using renewables in steel production can significantly reduce lifecycle emissions (MetalsHub, 2023).
Recycling and scrap usage are also equally important, as higher scrap content lowers carbon intensity and supports circular processes (Fastmarkets, 2024). Finally, transparency and traceability, for carbon emissions, are now a given; buyers expect verified, comparable carbon footprints. As noted by the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, measurement systems remain fragmented with each region applying different thresholds and standards (OIES, 2025).
What meeting those standards looks like: Does that really exist?
Arabian Gulf Steel Industries (AGSI) demonstrates how global green standards can be translated into measurable verifiable action. AGSI’s model relies on 100% locally sourced material, which reduces emissions and transport distances, while enhancing region’s circularity. AGSI produces steel through induction furnaces powered predominantly by clean and renewable energy, achieving one of the world’s lowest carbon intensities, which is approximately 0.2 tCO₂ per ton of steel, compared to 1.8-2.0 tCO₂/t for conventional blast furnace manufacturing (AGSI, 2023a & Asuene, 2024).
AGSI’s model is further strengthened by independent verification of its net-zero status, which adds credibility to the company in a market concerned with instances of “greenwashing” (AGSI,n.d.). More importantly, AGSI reports its emissions and maintains its transparency, which helps ensure AGSI’s adherence to reporting and verification for CBAM and other world climate policies (Carbon Trust, 2023). Data such as AGSI’s could serve as a benchmark for the region’s transition, offering practical reference for other producers.
Arabian Gulf Steel Industries (AGSI) demonstrates how global green standards can be translated into measurable, verifiable action. Its approach centers on performance integrity, combining audited carbon accounting, continuous monitoring under its Energy Management System, and transparent disclosure aligned with international frameworks such as CBAM and other world climate policies (Carbon Trust, 2023).
In an industry often clouded by instances of “greenwashing,” AGSI’s independently verified Net Zero status and one of the world’s lowest verified carbon intensities provide rare, data-backed assurance. This transparency-driven model not only strengthens trust but also sets a credible reference point for the region’s low-carbon transition.
Why the AISU Forums Are More Important than Ever
The agenda for the upcoming AISU summit in 2025 demonstrates how central sustainability has become. Alongside forecasts for regional demand and investment discussions, sessions now include emissions measurement, renewable energy integration and alignment with global trade frameworks (AISU, 2025).
The outcomes have real-world implications. Decisions at these forums influence which producers gain export market access, how customer contracts are structured, and where international capital flows. For steel producers, meeting green standards is now a business imperative, not just a sustainability goal.
For regulators and buyers, AISU forums provide the collaborative space needed to ensure that the definition of “green steel” is consistent, practical, and globally recognized. By examining companies like AGSI, which provide measurable data on emissions, recycling, and energy performance, the forums gain a tangible reference for what is achievable and what gaps remain. The real test is how quickly data-based standards translate into regional policy and financing that reward verified low-carbon producers and accelerate adoption across the supply chain.
References
AISU (2025) Preliminary Agenda – Arab Iron & Steel Union Summit. Available at: https://events.aisusteel.org(Accessed: 23 September 2025).
Asuene (2024) Green Steel: Policies and Sectors Driving the Decarbonization of Steel. Available at: https://asuene.com (Accessed: 23 September 2025).
Carbon Trust (2023) CBAM: What it Means for Exporters of Steel, Iron and Aluminium. Available at: https://www.carbontrust.com (Accessed: 23 September 2025).
European Commission (2025) Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). Available at: https://taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu (Accessed: 23 September 2025).
Fastmarkets (2024) Green Steel in Focus: Five Key Questions Answered by Experts. Available at: https://www.fastmarkets.com (Accessed: 23 September 2025).
MetalsHub (2023) Green Steel Explained. Available at: https://www.metals-hub.com (Accessed: 23 September 2025).
Oxford Institute for Energy Studies (OIES) (2025) 50 Shades of Green Steel: Unpacking What Green Means for Steel. Oxford: OIES.