Tokyo Steel introduces a low-carbon brand

Tokyo Steel of Japan has joined the ranks of global steelmakers now offering branded low-carbon steel products. The company has selected Ens? as the name of what it calls its “new proprietary green steel brand.”

According to the company, which made the announcement of the low-carbon product in cooperation with London-based steel trading firm Stemcor Group, the ens? circle “holds deep symbolism and cultural significance in Japan.”

As a symbol, it represents various concepts including eternity, infinity, harmony and balance, and the cyclical nature of life, say the companies. “As such, Ens? symbolizes Tokyo Steel’s commitment to the ‘circular economy’ through their products, whilst the circular Ens? logo transitions from charcoal to green to symbolize the evolution from carbon intensive production to green steel,” state Tokyo Steel and Stemcor.

The steel producer says it achieves lower embodied carbon emissions in the new product line through the use of electric arc furnace (EAF) production using recycled steel scrap, although it does not indicate the average recycled steel percentage in its initial announcement.

The Ens? product range will initially include hot-rolled Coil (HRC) and hot-rolled late (HRP) versions, with plans to expand the range over time.

Stemcor says the new Tokyo Steel product “includes approximately one-third of the embodied carbon emissions” compared with “the market leading EU blast furnace producer.” That reference could be referring to the ArcelorMittal XCarb product line, which was introduced in 2021, although ArcelorMittal is in the midst of investing to install more EAF capacity in Europe.

While the name Ens? might be new, Tokyo Steel says it has been supplying its range of HRC and HRP products to the EU market “for some time,” fulfilling what Tokyo Steel and Stemcor call a “growing demand from its customers for low embodied carbon steel.”

The Ens? product range will initially include hot-rolled Coil (HRC) and hot-rolled late (HRP) versions, with plans to expand the range over time.

Stemcor says the new Tokyo Steel product “includes approximately one-third of the embodied carbon emissions” compared with “the market leading EU blast furnace producer.” That reference could be referring to the ArcelorMittal XCarb product line, which was introduced in 2021, although ArcelorMittal is in the midst of investing to install more EAF capacity in Europe.

While the name Ens? might be new, Tokyo Steel says it has been supplying its range of HRC and HRP products to the EU market “for some time,” fulfilling what Tokyo Steel and Stemcor call a “growing demand from its customers for low embodied carbon steel.”