Global steel demand is expected to grow in the coming decades, driven by infrastructure development and the clean energy transition. Meeting this demand while reducing emissions will require progress in both steel production and the way steel is used in construction.

The transition is already underway. The steel industry is advancing lower-carbon production routes, including scrap-based electric arc furnace production, direct reduced iron, hydrogen-based technologies and carbon capture. At the same time, the design and engineering community can reduce emissions now through more efficient use of materials, reuse of structural components, and other circular design strategies.

The updated 2026 white paper explores the technologies, design strategies and real-world projects contributing to the decarbonization of steel and construction.

 Read the 2026 White Paper

There is no single pathway to decarbonising steel. Scrap-based production powered by lower-carbon electricity offers opportunities for emissions reductions today, while direct reduced iron, hydrogen-based steelmaking and carbon capture provide additional pathways as technologies, energy systems and supporting infrastructure develop.

Construction can deliver immediate carbon reductions through efficient structural design, the use of low-carbon emission and high-strength steel, prefabrication, and reclaimed material reuse, which directly lower raw material demand. Furthermore, renovating and repurposing existing structures extends building lifespans, avoiding new construction emissions.

Steel decarbonization depends on access to lower-carbon energy, high-quality raw materials, supporting infrastructure and market demand backed by policy and regulation. The construction sector can support this transition by driving demand for low-emission steel and adopting efficient circular design principles – such as designing for adaptability, disassembly, and component reuse.