Bluemint Pure Steel

Rolled steel / Source: Thyssenkrupp Steel

Bluemint Pure SteelEuropeFood & BeverageFood GradeLeak ProofLightweightLow-CarbonPackagingRecyclableRigidSteelStrong

WHAT WE SAY:

Steel is already a material we champion, predominantly for its infinite recyclability. Where this material falls short, however, is the carbon intensity of its production, with the steel industry contributing nearly 8% of overall CO2 emissions every year.

Bluemint® Pure Steel from Thyssenkrupp Steel tells a different story. By replacing iron ore with sponge ore, the carbon emissions of this steel – which lives up to traditional steel standards – are reduced by 70%. Imagine the far-reaching impact this could have if the entire steel industry got on board.

Bluemint Pure Steel

WHAT IS BLUEMINT PURE STEEL?

Bluemint Pure Steel from Thyssenkrupp Steel is a certified CO2-reduced Steel that’s designed to minimise the production impact of steel by reducing the amount of coal needed to smelt iron ore in the manufacturing process.
This is done by substituting a portion of the traditional iron ore with sponge ore (HBI) – a previously reduced iron that does not need further reduction by coal to be turned into steel, meaning less coal is needed overall. This simple swap has lowered the CO2 emissions per tonne of hot strip steel from 2.1 tonnes to 0.6 tonnes, a reduction of 70%.
What stands Bluemint Pure Steel apart from more common low-carbon steel is that key properties of steel are not lost in the process. Low-carbon steel is renowned for making steel more pliable, and therefore less effective. Bluemint Steel retains its high grade, and is therefore usable across a wider range of products and industries.
Bluemint Steel is available as Bluemint Pure, which uses HBI, and Bluemint Recycled, which uses scrap steel in the blast furnace. The latter sees CO2 reductions of 1.35 tonnes per tonne of hot strip, a 64% reduction.
The CO2-reduced steel has already been used in the production of bathtubs, shower trays, washbasin bowls and food containers.
The steel can be recycled in kerbside recycling streams as traditional steel would be.

KEY PROPERTIES:

Food Grade
Leak Proof
Lightweight
Low-Carbon
Recyclable
Rigid
Strong

INDUSTRY:

Food & Beverage
Packaging

AVAILABILITY:

Commercially Available

DIVE DEEPER:

The production of steel requires temperatures of up to 1,700°C to turn liquid iron into steel, a temperature that is significantly higher than volcanic lava. For every tonne of steel produced in a blast furnace, between 1.5 and 3 tonnes of fossil carbon is released into the atmosphere.
On the other end of the spectrum is steel’s ability to be infinitely recycled. According to The World Steel Association, around 630 million tonnes of steel scrap is recycled globally every year, saving nearly 950 million tonnes of CO2 that would have been produced to create virgin steel. Considering the world produced 1,869.9 million tonnes of crude steel in 2019, the amount created from recycled material is sizeable.
It is also persistently recycled throughout territories. The US has shown a recycling rate of nearly 70% on average each year, whereas the UK averages almost 85% and Germany sees rates as high as 92%. Countries on the other end of the spectrum include India, where metal recycling rates sit between 20-25%. The magnetic quality of steel makes it easy to recover from waste streams, improving its recyclability rates.
Reducing the carbon footprint of steel is directly credible against the Scope 3 emissions of Thyssenkrupp Steel’s customers. Key uses of Bluemint Pure so far include Ricola’s new cans for its herbal drops and Kaldewei’s limited edition Nature Protect product series of bathtubs, washbasins and shower trays.
All Bluemint Steel is produced in Thyssenkrupp Rasselstein’s steel production site in Duisburg, Germany. The company plans to substitute coal for hydrogen in its production processes by 2045, allowing it to create 100% carbon-neutral steel.
Bluemint Pure Steel has been certified by independent quality assurance company DNV as being carbon efficient.
The company is investing in two new walking beam furnaces in 2024 to ensure the best surface quality of premium steel sheets.

Rolled steel / Source: Thyssenkrupp Steel

KEY FACTS:

70%

Substituting a portion of traditional iron ore with sponge ore has reduced the CO2 emissions per tonne of hot strip steel by 70%

950mn tns

Around 630 million tonnes of steel scrap is recycled globally every year, saving nearly 950 million tonnes of CO2 that would have been produced to create virgin steel

400,000 tns

By 2025, Thyssenkrupp Steel aims to produce 400,000 tonnes of Bluemint Steel

Key Questions to Ask:

Can you eliminate coal altogether?

While partially using sponge ore reduces the requirement for coal, thereby reducing CO2 emissions, a pilot scheme from Swedish mining company LKAB has successfully reduced iron ore using hydrogen made from fossil-free electricity instead of coal and coke. The project has been undertaken in partnership with SSAB and Vattenfall, and is said to eliminate 90% of emissions in the steelmaking process. Keep a close eye on this innovation, which is looking to industrially scale.

How much steel do you need?

Thyssenkrupp Steel currently has an annual production capacity of 11 million tonnes of crude steel. By 2025, it aims to produce 400,000 tonnes of Bluemint Steel, a drop in the ocean compared to its overarching output. Widespread adoption will help accelerate production capacity, but Bluemint Pure is not currently suitable for replacing mass-market product lines. Consider starting with one product/range, increasing demand for the material, which will enable you to expand its use more quickly.

Can Bluemint pure be produced outside of Europe for localised supply chains?

Bluemint Pure is currently only produced in Germany, meaning brands looking to use it outside of Europe will instantly increase the carbon footprint of their final product. Look to partner with Thyssenkrupp Steel to franchise the technology and expand it globally.

What treatments does your product require?

Bluemint Pure in its raw state is 100% plastic-free, but be considerate of the decorative applications you apply to your steel-based product so as not to change this status. Avoid plastic sleeves and ink-jet printing, instead opting for embossing, can shaping, laser etching and cut-outs where applicable. When creating beverage cans, steer clear of resealable plastic ends and plastic lids. While this can make a can reusable, the small plastic closings will never be recycled and the can will only be reused a handful of times.