Johnson Controls, a global pioneer for smart, healthy, and sustainable buildings announced the launch of a program for recycling steel, through a collaboration with Nucor Corporation, the largest steel producer and recycler in North America.
Recycling secondary steel
Over 70% of Johnson Controls' steel purchases in the US and 45% globally are manufactured from recycled scrap materials.
The program with Nucor will recycle nearly 100% of that secondary scrap steel again, amounting to thousands of tons each year, at major Johnson Controls manufacturing sites in the US.
electric arc furnace (EAF) technology
A closed-loop recycling process is an efficient form of circularity especially for well suited to metals like steel
Nucor will remelt the scrap steel using electric arc furnace (EAF) technology, which generates approximately 75% fewer emissions than traditional blast furnace manufacturing. The remelted steel will be sold back to Johnson Controls for use in manufacturing.
This closed-loop recycling process is a highly efficient form of circularity that is especially well suited to metals like steel, which retain their robust material structures through multiple rounds of recycling and repurposing.
near-net zero steel
Johnson Controls is engaged globally to use our purchasing power to accelerate the adoption of near-net zero steel, including being a founding member of the First Movers Coalition, an organization initiated by the US State Department and the World Economic Forum.
"With our smart building technology trifecta – energy-efficient equipment, clean electrification, and systemic digitalization – we have already reached the point of being able to help customers reduce building operational emissions to net zero," says Katie McGinty, Vice President and Chief Sustainability and External Affairs Officer at Johnson Controls.
Challenges with Steel
"However, embodied carbon emissions in hard-to-abate sectors like steel are much more challenging."
"We are unraveling the complexities of embodied carbon, by addressing the challenge from different angles: from low-carbon steel purchases to steel recycling, material recycling, and overall product footprint reduction."
upstream decarbonization
We are excited about the immediate resource and emissions reductions and the long-term ripple effect"
"This partnership with Nucor will allow us to accelerate upstream decarbonization significantly through the further recycling of thousands of tons of steel every year."
"We are excited not only about the immediate resource and emissions reductions but also about the long-term ripple effect this closed-loop recycling partnership will have for resource, energy, and emissions savings."
recycling program
"We are excited to work more closely with Johnson Controls and build on our longstanding relationship by developing this recycling program," said Noah Hanners, Executive Vice President of Raw Materials for Nucor Corporation.
"Nucor pioneered the use of EAF technology in the late 1960s, and we are now one of the cleanest, most sustainable steel producers in the world."
closed-loop recycling
"We formed Nucor Industrial Recycling to work with our steel customers to find new and better ways to return steel scrap directly from manufacturing facilities to our steel mills for re-melting to make new steel products."
"This closed-loop recycling program is a great example of how we work with our customers to improve resource efficiency in the steel supply chain."
ESG & Sustainability
Johnson Controls Recognition for ESG & Sustainability:
- Ranked on the 2023 Global 100 Listing of the World's Most Sustainable Corporations by Corporate Knights.
- World's Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere for the 16th time.
In 2022:
- Distinguished as a Global Climate Leader by the Climate Disclosure Project.
- Awarded platinum sustainability rating by EcoVadis, placing it in the top 1% of companies evaluated.
- Named as Microsoft's Global Sustainability Changemaker.
- Fortune Change the World list.
- Fortune Most Admired Companies.
- Forbes Best Employers for Diversity.
- 100 Best Corporate Citizens by 3BL Media for the 17th year in a row.
- AAA rating by MSCI for the fourth year in a row.
- ESG Industry Top Rated by Sustainalytics.
- ISS Prime Corporate ESG Performance, #1 in the GISC industry.
- Named to Financial Times European Climate Leaders list.
- Received HRH The Prince of Wales' Terra Carta Seal.