Multiplex joins SteelZero to combat carbon emissions in the steel industry

Multiplex has reinforced its commitment to reducing carbon emissions and tackling the climate emergency by signing its European operations up to SteelZero, a global initiative that brings together forward-looking organisations from a diverse range of sectors to speed up the transition to a net zero steel industry.

SteelZero is led by international non-profit organisation, the Climate Group, working in partnership with ResponsibleSteel. In the first initiative of its kind, SteelZero members make a public commitment to procure only 100% net zero carbon steel by 2050. Through their collective purchasing power and influence, SteelZero members send a strong signal to shift global markets and policies towards the responsible production and sourcing of steel.

Steel is the world’s most widely used material. It is also one of the world’s biggest emitters of CO₂, despite technologies already existing for its production to be decarbonised. The steel sector accounts for 7–9% of the world’s direct carbon emissions generated through the use of fossil fuels, and this is projected to rise in line with increased demand. For the world to reach net zero carbon by 2050, global carbon emissions must be halved in the next ten years, and the steel industry has an important role to play in this journey.

Multiplex has already undertaken extensive work to decarbonise their European operations, reducing their direct carbon emissions (Scope 1 and 2) by 60% in the period 2018 to 2019. They were also the first contractor in the world to realign their carbon reduction target with limiting global warming increase to 1.5ºC and have it approved by the Science Based Targets initiative. Assisting their key supply chain members to set their own carbon reduction targets in alignment with the 1.5ºC target is a core part of their focus, and they are doing this through one-to-one capacity building to escalate action on scope 3 carbon emissions.

In 2019, Multiplex procured 4,199.37m³ of steel and they will continue to work closely with their supply chain to transition to procuring only 100% net zero carbon steel by 2050. Multiplex’s commitment to the SteelZero initiative is an important step on the journey towards their ultimate goal of being entirely net zero by 2050, which includes supply chain emissions.

Steve Smith, Executive Director SHEQ, said:

“Multiplex is committed to decarbonising the built environment and tackling the climate and biodiversity emergency. We have already aligned our European operations to a 1.5ºC science-based target and joining the SteelZero initiative is another step forward on the journey we are taking with our clients and supply chain partners to reach net-zero.”

Find out more about the SteelZero initiative.