As India accelerates its journey toward achieving net-zero emissions by 2070, the construction sector plays a pivotal role in reducing embodied carbon. Steel, a fundamental material in infrastructure, offers significant opportunities for sustainability through recycling and low-carbon construction practices. With India emerging as the world’s second-largest steel producer, adopting sustainable methods in steel production is critical to meeting both national and global climate goals.
Project Spotlight: Tata Steel Jamshedpur Plant
Established in 1907, Tata Steel’s Jamshedpur plant is India’s first steel plant and has been continuously operational for over a century. The plant has evolved into a model of sustainability, integrating circular economy principles and advanced technologies to minimise its environmental footprint. Interestingly, the Jamshedpur plant was one of the first in the world to adopt a zero-waste philosophy, converting by-products like slag and gas into energy and construction materials — decades before such practices became a global sustainability standard. This forward-thinking approach has allowed the plant to reduce its environmental impact while setting benchmarks for sustainable steel production globally.
Steel Recycling: A Pathway to Sustainability
Recycling steel is one of the most effective ways to reduce carbon emissions in construction. Each tonne of recycled steel saves 1.4 tonne of iron ore, 0.8 tonne of coal, and 0.3 tonne of limestone, while avoiding 1.67 tonne of CO₂ emissions. By 2040, India’s ship recycling sector alone could prevent nearly 20 million tonne of CO₂ emissions annually. Tata Steel has embraced recycling on a large scale, ensuring that scrap steel and industrial by-products are reincorporated into production cycles to reduce raw material dependency.
Low-Carbon Construction Practices
Adopting low-carbon materials and construction techniques is essential for achieving net-zero emissions. The use of Electric Arc Furnaces (EAFs) and Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) processes powered by renewable energy sources can reduce emissions by up to 90 per cent compared to traditional blast furnace methods. Additionally, low-carbon alternatives such as limestone calcined clay cement (LC3) can significantly reduce the carbon footprint of construction projects. Tata Steel has been piloting these methods within its operations, demonstrating that traditional steelmaking can coexist with low-emission technologies.
Government Initiatives and Industry Collaborations
The Indian government has introduced several initiatives to promote sustainable steel production. The Green Steel Mission, a transformative ₹15,000 crore programme, aims to decarbonise the steel industry by incentivising low-carbon technologies and practices. Additionally, the Steel Scrap Recycling Policy and the Taxonomy of Green Steel (2024) define standards for low-emission steel production, introducing a star rating system to classify steel based on carbon emissions per metric tonne produced.
Industry collaboration is also key. Tata Steel has partnered with technology providers, government agencies, and research institutions to implement low-carbon technologies and renewable energy solutions, setting a benchmark for responsible steel production globally.
Expert Takeaway
According to Tata Steel’s sustainability leadership team, “The Jamshedpur plant demonstrates that legacy industries can evolve into global models of sustainability without compromising productivity. By integrating circular economy principles, digital monitoring, and renewable energy, we can deliver low-carbon steel at scale, supporting India’s climate goals and global decarbonisation targets.”
The Road Ahead
Achieving net-zero emissions in the steel sector requires a multi-pronged approach: increasing recycling, adopting low-carbon technologies, and implementing circular economy practices. The Tata Steel Plant in Jamshedpur exemplifies how integrating these initiatives can deliver substantial environmental benefits while maintaining operational efficiency.
As India progresses toward its 2070 net-zero target, the lessons from Jamshedpur’s journey offer valuable insights for the wider construction and steel sectors. Stakeholders—from government bodies to industry leaders and consumers—must collaborate to scale these sustainable practices nationwide.
Stay tuned next week for a deep dive into the latest innovations in sustainable construction materials and how they are shaping India’s low-carbon future.
