Swedish steelmaker SSAB has signed a supply agreement for SSABZeroTM with Volvo Cars in what is being described as a significant step forward in a shared commitment from both companies to reduce carbon emissions.
Tony Harris, head of SSAB Europe, commented: "With forward-thinking partners like Volvo Cars, we continue to lead the transformation of the steel industry - delivering decarbonized steel without compromising the exceptional quality required for Volvo Cars’ high standards.”
SSAB ZeroTM is the world’s first commercially available steel of its kind produced from recycled scrap metal using fossil-free electricity and biogas. This process, claims SSAB, results in steel with virtually zero fossil carbon emissions, available in a variety of grades and dimensions.
Francesca Gamboni, chief manufacturing & supply chain officer, Volvo Cars, said: “One of the biggest sources of CO2 emissions in our production process is the steel we use to build our cars, averaging 25% of all material-related emissions for a new Volvo car. We are working towards achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040, and cutting steel-related emissions really has the potential to move the needle."
We are working towards achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040, and cutting steel-related emissions really has the potential to move the needle."
Francesca Gamboni, chief manufacturing & supply chain officer, Volvo Cars.
SSAB Zero™ steel will be used in key components of Volvo Cars’ upcoming fully electric EX60 SUV as well as other cars based on Volvo Cars’ next-generation SPA3 car architecture. It meets the same stringent safety standards and performance requirements as the primary steel used in Volvo Cars.
SSAB claims it is committed to eliminating fossil carbon dioxide emissions from it's operations and launched SSAB ZeroTM in 2023.
Volvo Cars says it is committed to a fully electric future and has the ambition to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. By 2030, the aim is to have reduced CO₂ emissions per car by 65-75% compared to a 2018 baseline, by continuously reducing CO₂ emissions across the value chain.