• Amazon and Johnson Controls join the Sustainable Steel Buyers Platform to accelerate near-zero emissions steel by 2028.
• The Platform targets 1 million tons of near-zero emissions steel annually, reducing 1.5 million metric tons of carbon emissions.
• The steel sector, responsible for 11% of global emissions, can drastically reduce its carbon footprint through this initiative.

Amazon and Johnson Controls are the latest major corporations to join the Sustainable Steel Buyers Platform (SSBP), an initiative aimed at scaling the production and procurement of near-zero emissions steel. The Platform, convened by clean energy nonprofit RMI, released a Request for Proposal (RFP) seeking bids from producers to supply 1 million tons of near-zero emissions steel annually by 2028.

This initiative is crucial for reducing the steel industry’s carbon footprint, which currently accounts for over 11% of global greenhouse gas emissions. By supporting the deployment of near-zero emissions technologies, the Platform aims to significantly lower the carbon intensity of steel production and supply chain emissions.

“We are excited to partner with the Sustainable Steel Buyers Platform to advance lower-emissions steel solutions,” said Chris Atkins, Director of Worldwide Operations Sustainability at Amazon. “We’re already reducing steel-related carbon emissions across our supply chain and investing in early-stage companies developing innovative solutions to steel decarbonization, which will help Amazon meet our commitment to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2040.”

Renae Kezar, Vice President of Corporate Sustainability at Johnson Controls, highlighted the importance of the initiative: “Green steel is essential for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and the Sustainable Steel Buyers Platform creates new opportunities to procure it through innovative partnerships.”

The first RFP, launched in September 2023, marks a significant step toward demonstrating the commercial viability of near-zero emissions steel production. The SSBP is aggregating buyers to encourage investments in sustainable iron and steelmaking technologies. Producers are invited to submit bids that meet strict emissions thresholds, aligning with global standards like IEA and ResponsibleSteel.

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“Building on the ambitious climate pledges of its members, the Sustainable Steel Buyers Platform is providing an avenue to accelerate commercialization of new clean technologies for a thriving, sustainable steel industry in the US,” said Thomas Koch Blank, Managing Director of RMI’s Climate-Aligned Industries Program.

With Amazon, Johnson Controls, and other members like Microsoft and Invenergy, the Platform aims to make near-zero emissions steel a reality, pushing the industry closer to its climate goals.