Steel Production in Canada
How clean is the steel in your lighting products?
The steel industry stands at the forefront of the battle to decarbonize our global industrial economy. As one of the largest contributors to carbon emissions, representing about 24% of industrial CO2 emissions globally, procuring steel products that are produced using modern technologies and clean energy is critically important.
by BJ Take on 24-04-04 9.00AM
Commercial and industrial lighting products contain a large amount of steel. The body and framework of a luminaire is most commonly made of steel, representing a significant portion of the overall material weight and content of the finished product. Steel requires an enormous amount of energy to manufacture. This energy is typically provided by the electrical grid and fossil fuel resources from the host country where the steel is being produced. As a result, countries with clean electricity generation and sufficient regulation to promote environmentally conscious resource extraction, produce steel with far less CO2 emissions.
Countries like Canada lead nearly all steel-producing nations in the world due to its vast hydroelectric, nuclear, and clean renewable power generation. The push for global decarbonization is driving cutting-edge research and innovation in steel production. Technologies like hydrogen-ready direct reduction electric arc furnaces (EAF) offer promising improvements to significantly reduce carbon emissions. The Ontario and Federal governments in Canada committed $1B of combined funding assistance in 2021 to update the ArcelorMittal Dofasco facility in Hamilton, Ontario to EAF technology. The improvement will further reduce Canadian CO2 emissions by about 3 million tons annually, which is equivalent to taking over 1 million vehicles off the road(1). By choosing lighting products manufactured with locally sourced steel, consumers can play a major role in reducing emissions associated with the transportation of steel. The carbon footprint of transporting finished products across the globe is substantial, making decisions like purchasing from local manufacturers an impactful choice in the fight against climate change. Furthermore, by purchasing steel products from countries with a proven track record of innovation, consumers will help fund more innovation and bolster their local economies.
By manufacturing in Canada using locally produced steel and clean energy, lighting manufacturers like BJ Take offer consumers far more environmentally conscious products versus lighting products that are imported from overseas.