The Green Steel Mirage

In Brazil, the production of green steel from eucalyptus biomass raises serious concerns about water resource management, the preservation of this vital resource for local communities, and the protection of biodiversity. Meanwhile, in Brussels, industrial lobbies are attempting to influence the definition of “green steel” in their favour, risking a drift toward greenwashing.

Key findings:

• In Minas Gerais, Brazil, the production of green steel from biomass creates tensions between stakeholders, deprives local communities of vital resources, and devastates the region's biome, transforming it into a “green desert.”
• The certifications associated with green steel are currently opaque, making it difficult for both consumers and companies to identify quality products. This lack of transparency fuels greenwashing by certain private players, allowing them to expand their businesses under the guise of environmental preservation.
• In Brussels, steel industry lobbies are working to influence the calculation methods used to define green steel at the European level, potentially undermining environmental efforts