Aperam cites recycled content in low-carbon product

Stainless steel producer says its mill products in Europe are made with up to 98 percent scrap content.

aperam stainless steel
In addition to helping buyers lower their scope 3 emissions, Aperam says its Infinite products can help them by “enhancing their sustainability credentials [plus] brand protection, differentiation from competitors and support in helping customers comply with regulatory requirements.”
Photo courtesy of Aperam S.A.

Luxembourg-based stainless and specialty steelmaker Aperam S.A. has introduced a stainless steel product line called Aperam Infinite marketed as low-carbon in part because of its high scrap content.

Aperam says its Infinite line is made with up to 98 percent scrap content in Europe. The company operates five mills in Belgium and France in Europe and one mill in Brazil.

The metals producer calls the new product line “an opportunity for customers to use more recycled materials in making their products, thanks to Aperam’s closed-loop process.”

Regarding the closed loop process, the firm says, “By partnering with Aperam, customers can maximize the value of their scrap by selling high-purity, well-sorted material to the company’s recycling and renewables division, embracing a complete circular model.”

Metals marketed as having low-carbon status and with recycled content have become increasingly common in the European market.

Competing stainless steel producer Outokumpu introduced its Circle Green product line last year, saying it says has a 92 percent lower carbon footprint than the industry average. That firm says the recycled content of its low-carbon product also reaches up to 98 percent.

In the aluminum sector, Norway-based Norsk Hydro is offering its Hydro Circal low-carbon product line in both Europe and the United States. Circal contains at least 75 percent of what Hydro calls postconsumer end-of-life scrap. 

Carbon steelmaker ArelcorMittal, based in Luxembourg, introduced its XCarb product line in 2021, and subsequently has forged supply agreements with General Motors and a solar energy products firm.

Regarding its Infinite product line, Aperam cites “an accelerated path to help customers achieve their CO2 reduction goals, including Scope 3 emissions, enhancing their sustainability credentials [plus] brand protection, differentiation from competitors and support in helping customers comply with regulatory requirements.”

In addition to the recycling aspects of Infinite, Aperam says the product line also features reduced emissions because of the company’s use of renewable energy resources such as hydroelectricity, photovoltaics and wind power.

Requirements or preferences for low-carbon stainless steel was a topic of discussion at a recent stainless steel-focused session at a metals recycling industry conference late this summer.