Tata Steel's Global Impact: Transforming Manufacturing and Production on a Sustainable Pathway
Tata Aashiyana
Sustainable methods of production in any industry focus on three concepts: reduce, recycle, and reuse. In the steel industry, the raw material, which is steel, is certainly recyclable, and this process can be done continuously without any change to the quality of the metal. Hence, sustainable methods that this industry must follow during the production process include making use of recyclable steel.
How Has Tata Steel Implemented Sustainable Methods In Its Steel Manufacturing Plants?
The production of steel produces a certain amount of carbon emissions, so it is vital to put in place a new method by which the intensity of CO2 emissions is reduced. Tata plans to implement them so that CO2 emissions intensity is less than 2 tCO2 per tonne of crude steel by the year 2025.
The Tata steel plant in Jamshedpur, which is the oldest one in the world, is now becoming a benchmark for the levels of CO2 emissions that should come from steel plants across the country. This plant has 100 percent solid waste management, and it also has water-positive status. The kind of equipment used in the production process is high-tech, modern, and has an in-built energy recovery system. So they have fewer emissions and use less power to work. As a result, the plant is able to bring out the desired output time and again.
In the UK, the Tata Steel plant has implemented several projects that will bring down carbon emissions so that a carbon-neutral production of steel can be achieved by the year 2050. They are planning to decarbonizes their operations by making use of green electricity and also implementing methods for 100 percent recyclability. Their plant in the Netherlands has investigated various technologies that can help reduce carbon emissions. This plant wants to reduce CO2 emissions by 5 million tonnes, and this is to be done within 2030. one of their most upcoming operations is Tata Aashiyana which is also following sustainable practices so that it brings down its carbon footprint.
It is to be noted that Tata Steel has implemented the life cycle assessment approach to mitigate the negative impact that the products it produces can cause. This is the approach that lays down the backbone of its road to sustainability in the steel industry. One of its most innovative approaches is to make use of recycled steel rather than new steel for production. When steel products are produced using recycled steel, there are few carbon emissions. Using recyclable steel means not depending so much on iron ore. Rather, scrap metal will be sent in the required quantities to various plans where it will be put into the production process.
Tata Steel has created FerroHaat, an application that enables it to secure steel scrap from various sources. Through it, the poor scrap supply chain is organised, and imported scrap does not have to be used much. By 2030, the company aims to promote its steel recycling business to 5 million metric tonnes per ar. By 2025, the company is aiming to achieve material efficiency. These targets and the steps taken to implement them show the company's commitment to reducing its carbon footprint in steel production.