In its October 2016 “Nerve of Steel” report, the Carbon Disclosure Project, or CDP, found that steel companies had quite a ways to go in order to meet targets set by the Paris Agreement – the industry as a whole would need to reduce emissions by 70% by 2050. While their report found that most companies were not doing enough to meet these targets, some companies, like POSCO, have been forging ahead with new technologies for more sustainable production.

Why are Reductions in Carbon Emissions Important?

In 2015, nations around the world met at the United Nations Climate Change Conference to negotiate the Paris Agreement. The goals of the Paris Agreement were to keep global warming below 2 degrees Celsius while also calling for zero net GHG emissions in the second half of the 21st century.

A 2-degree increase in global temperature is generally agreed upon by scientists to be the tipping point at which numerous problems arise including droughts, floods, and reductions in crop yields. However, many scientists also believe that if carbon emissions are not curbed quickly, and drastically, temperatures could rise by almost 6 degrees Celsius this century.

Due to the increasing urgency of curbing emissions, governments, businesses, and policymakers around the globe are working to find ways to cut GHG. To help inform this process, CDP transforms environmental performance data from cities, states, and businesses into detailed analysis on critical environmental risks, opportunities and impacts.

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Their “Nerves of Steel” report on the steel industry’s work to cut GHG emissions found few bright spots. The industry as a whole continues to be the main contributor of global carbon emissions with only a few companies, like POSCO, stepping forward to create more sustainable steel production technologies.    

Objectives and Findings of the CDP Report

CDP’s “Nerves of Steel” report found that overall progress in reducing emissions and energy use was limited and uneven across the industry. They found that in the past seven years more companies had increased their emissions intensity and energy intensity than had reduced them. Because of this lack of progress, they found that the steel industry was responsible for between 6-7% of total global emissions. Also, in order to meet Paris Agreement objectives, the industry as a whole would need to reduce emissions by a staggering 70% by 2050.  

Drew Fryer, a Senior Analyst at Investor Research at CDP noted that “The steel industry will have to play a huge part in achieving the 2-degree scenario laid out in the Paris Agreement. However, there has been no progress in reducing its emissions over the past decade. Steelmakers need to prioritize funding of a technology transformation to reduce emissions in order to ensure targets are met.”

Despite the grim outlook on the industry as a whole, CDP did highlight several companies that were working hard toward creating more sustainable steel production technology – among those top performers were POSCO, SSAB, ThyssenKrupp, and Hyundai Steel. See the table below for a full listing of CPD’s rankings.

How POSCO is Leading the Steel Industry in Sustainable Steel Production

CDP ranked POSCO first among all steelmakers for its work to produce steel through more sustainable processes. They noted that POSCO performed strongly across most key areas with below average emissions intensity. Also, unlike several other steelmakers, POSCO demonstrated an ability to reduce its emissions intensity significantly in recent years.

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While the report placed a strong focus on the industry not focusing on targets to limit global warming (six out of the 14 companies did not even publish targets beyond 2016), CDP noted that POSCO’s targets remain consistent with the goal to cut emissions significantly enough to reach the Paris Agreement objectives.

In particular, CDP highlighted POSCO’s FINEX technology that was developed and commercialized to provide incremental emissions reductions from steelmaking by eliminating sintering and coke oven processes. They also noted that the technology has the potential to be combined with carbon capture & storage (CCS) due to high concentrations of CO2 in waste gases, POSCO’s other active projects to separate and capture CO2, and their early stage work on carbon capture & use (CCU) and hydrogen-based steelmaking.

POSCO’s technological advancements in sustainable steel production have helped it reduce emissions while becoming more competitive.

In addition to these developments, POSCO continues its work to make its factories run smarter and more efficiently. AI and IIoT technology are helping to improve product quality for POSCO’s customers while also reducing waste and pollution. In addition, to be recognized by CDP as a leader in the steel industry, POSCO’s efforts have also been recognized by the Corporate Knights’ Global 100 list (#1 in Metals and Mining), and they have also been listed on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for 12 straight years.

As the world works toward hitting emission reduction targets, governments, policymakers, and industry leaders must step forward to lead. POSCO’s work to limit emissions has proven that more sustainable production can also be more competitive.

*Cover image courtesy of the World Steel Association

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POSCO was recently named by WSD as the world’s most competitive steelmaker for the seventh time in a row during the past five years. Apart from receiving credit for technological innovation and human resource management, POSCO has also been making continuous socio-economic and environmental efforts side by side with its stakeholders to create value and bolster mutual growth. The recently published 11^th annual sustainability report sums up these efforts. Let’s have a closer look.

About the 2013 Sustainability Report

[Download the 2013 Sustainability Report HERE]

First, the Report includes both financial and non-financial data.

POSCO and listed subsidiaries within the POSCO Family*, or those having more than KRW 1 trillion in sales are included in the consolidated ESG(environment, society, governing structure) data, which was verified by Samil PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Second, we report ‘Key Issues’ which have high ranks in the materiality test.

The report also includes specific information on the issues selected from the materiality test in order to include detailed information that the stakeholders want to know.

Third, we gathered the opinions of internal and external stakeholders and reflected them in the materiality test before publishing this Report.

Previously, there were some difficulties in reflecting stakeholders’ opinions because they were gathered in the course of preparing the Report. For this Report, however, we listened to stakeholders’ opinions from the planning stage and linked them to the materiality analysis process.

Fourth, we reported the cases of CSV (Creating Shared Value), ‘a management principle that seeks opportunity for business in solving social problems’.

We marked CSV cases separately within the contents describing POSCO’s management activities, including building a Saemaul Village in Ethiopia, training agricultural leaders in Mongolia, the Benefit Sharing Program, and Techno Partnership.

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Note: 2013 Sustainability Report further references

Reporting approach
The 2013 Report is based on the GRI (Global Reporting Initiatives) G4 guideline, ISO 26000, UN Global Compact, and POSCO’s unique report publishing process. The financial information reporting standards and definitions are based on the K-IFRS (Korean International Financial Reporting Standards.

Period of reporting
POSCO publishes the report annually. This Report contains information from January 1st, 2013 to December 31st, 2013. In some instances information up to April 2014 were included. The corporate governance section is based on the decisions made by the Board of Directors at the meeting held on March 14, 2014.

Scope of reporting
The Report contains the sustainability activities and performances of Pohang Steelworks, Gwangyang Steelworks, Pohang headquarters and the Seoul office. The ESG (Environment, society, governing structure) data covers POSCO and nine POSCO subsidiaries that are listed in the stock exchange or have more than KRW 1 trillion in sales. Information on shareholders, investors, and new green growth businesses cover the whole POSCO subsidiary.

Independent assurance
Assurance on this Report was conducted by Samil PwC, an independent assurance institution, in order to assure stakeholders on the credibility of the major data and publishing process of the Report. Assurance was conducted in accordance with ISAE3000 and AA1000AS Type II.

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POSCO 2013 Highlights

Why don’t we take a look at what efforts POSCO made during the year 2013, and their results?

[Click titles for details]

1. POSCO WINS THE ‘WORLD’S MOST COMPETITIVE STEELMAKER’ AWARD FOR 4 CONSECUTIVE YEARS!

On February 1, POSCO was named “The World’s Most Competitive Steelmaker” for the fourth time in a row. This was the result of the evaluation conducted by WSD (World Steel Dynamics) on 34 of the world’s steelmakers in 23 categories including production capacity, profitability, and technology innovation. POSCO had held the top position from 2002 through 2004, then was surpassed by Russian and Indian steelmakers, but regained top spot again in 2010 after 6 years, and has hence remained no.1 for 4 consecutive years.

2. POSCO RENOVATES WORLD’S BIGGEST FURNACE AT GWANGYANG STEELWORKS!

On June 7, after 108 days of repair works, POSCO held the blow-in ceremony for Gwangyang Steelworks’ No.1 blast furnace that was renovated as the world’s largest blast furnace. After its third enhancement made in 2013, Furnace 1’s volume now reaches 6,000 bigger than the previously world’s largest furnace (5,800) built by Shagang Group in China. The Gwangyang blast furnace applies a new cooling system, a production technology involving oxygen enrichment, and reduces fuel consumption by using high-temperature reducing gas efficiently, achieving a cost effective and environmentally friendly process.

3. DAEWOO INTERNATIONAL STARTS PRODUCTION AT MYANMAR GAS FIELD

On June 22, Daewoo International successfully began production at the Mya gas field, located in the northeastern sea of Myanmar. The Myanmar gas field project came in full swing when Daewoo International signed a PSC with the Myanmar Government. The gas produced was passed through the subsea pipeline, subsea production facility, and the production platform to check the gas production and treatment facility, and began selling to CNPC, a Chinese state-owned petroleum company from the gas selling location in Kyauk Phyu, west of Myanmar, since July 2013!

4. DECLARATION OF THE NEW ETHICAL MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES

Celebrating the 10th anniversary of the proclamation of POSCO’s Code of Conducts, POSCO held a declaration ceremony for the New Ethical Management principle. The new principle, dubbed “Happiness Management” presents the vision “Let’s Come Together to Build a Better World!” and its 3 core values – future, common good, and win-win.

5. POSCO INCLUDED IN THE SUSTAINABILITY INDEX FOR NINE CONSECUTIVE YEARS!

For the first time in the steel industry, POSCO was included in the Sustainability Index by SAM-Dow Jones as a leading company for 9 consecutive years! In the 2013 evaluation, 31 steelmakers were evaluated, and POSCO received 77 points – 3 points higher than the previous year – and was selected as an outstanding company for the 9th consecutive year.

6. FIRST EXPORT OF FINEX TECHNOLOGY

On September 22, POSCO signed an MOA with state-owned Chongqing Iron and Steel Company, to construct a FINEX integrated steel plant. POSCO and Chongqing will each invest 50% in the joint project to build the FINEX integrated steel plant with an annual capacity of 3 million tons.

7. 1% FOUNDATION INAUGURATED!

POSCO’s 1% Foundation was officially inaugurated on November 18. The 1% Foundation was first started in October 2011, where executives and management-level personnel donated 1% of their salaries. POSCO and 26 POSCO Family companies participate in the campaign. The Foundation will implement sharing campaigns using the KRW 4 billion’s worth fund raised through donations during 2013 and the company’s matching grant.

8. INTEGRATED STEEL PLANT IN INDONESIA BEGINS OPERATION

On December 23, POSCO held the blowing-in ceremony for the 3 million tons/year blast furnace in Cilegon, Indonesia. Krakatau POSCO is expected to produce 1.8 million tons of slab and 1.2 million tons of thick plates annually. Krakatau POSCO will secure the domestic sales network which can fetch higher prices than exporting the products, and plans to sell 1.5 million tons of slab and 600 thousand tons of thick plates in the Indonesian market during 2014.

POSCO’s vision is to become a company “loved by the people and admired by the world.” As CEO Ohjoon Kwon promised in his foreword to this report, POSCO will fulfill its duties and obligations as a corporate citizen. As a company built upon the very wishes and aspirations of the nation, POSCO will remember that it is forever in debt to the people and act accordingly. From the endeavors in preserving biodiversity to sharing with those in need through the 1% foundation, POSCO’s corporate philosophy will always be about the betterment of humanity.Thank you.