Sep. 17, 2025 - LESS AISBL is proud to announce the issuance of its first six certifications to steel companies Georgsmarienhütte, thyssenkrupp Steel Europe, Salzgitter Flachstahl, Peiner Träger, Salzgitter Mannesmann Grobblech, and Ilsenburger Grobblech. These companies are now officially authorized to label their certified products with the LESS label, a symbol of transparency and commitment to climate-conscious steel production.

Products manufactured via non-decarbonized process routes are classified under the LESS category “E.” Encouragingly, many of the newly certified products have already achieved low-emission classifications ranging from D to A, demonstrating that these companies have taken meaningful initial steps toward decarbonising their production processes.

Looking ahead, the industry must expand the volume of low-emission steel, with a particular focus on decarbonizing primary steel production—where steel is made from iron ore—through the construction of direct reduction plants. Achieving the highest LESS classification, “Near Zero,” will also require decarbonization of upstream activities such as mining and raw material transport.

Dr. Carmen Ostwald, Secretary General of LESS AISBL, expressed her enthusiasm:
"The awarding of the first certifications under the LESS standard marks a milestone in the young history of our organization. I congratulate all certified companies and extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone at the LESS member companies, the certification bodies TÜV Nord and DNV, WV Stahl, and FutureCamp, whose collaborative efforts made this achievement possible."

A European Standard for a Global Challenge

LESS represents a major milestone for the steel industry. As a classification label for low-emission steel, it lays the foundation for the creation of lead markets in Europe—markets that will be essential in making low-emission basic materials the new standard in the long run.

LESS AISBL is currently preparing the next phase of standard development. While the current scope covers Quality Steel and Structural and Reinforcing Steel, future extensions will include Stainless Steel and processes such as Ingot Casting, Forging, Tube Rolling, and Electroslag Remelting. Proposals for these extensions have already been developed and will be subject to public consultation in the coming weeks, ensuring that all stakeholders are actively involved in shaping the future of the standard.

From Vision to Reality

The Low Emission Steel Standard was developed by Wirtschaftsvereinigung Stahl (German Steel Association, WV Stahl) in collaboration with FutureCamp and member companies of WV Stahl, as part of a stakeholder process initiated by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action. The standard was officially launched at Hannover Messe in 2024.

Following its launch, pilot certifications were conducted with DNV and TÜV Nord. Insights from this pilot phase informed the further refinement of the LESS standard, ensuring its robustness and applicability across diverse production contexts.

In October 2024, LESS AISBL was established in Brussels as an international non-profit organization. It has since assumed full responsibility for managing and evolving the standard, with WV Stahl continuing to support LESS as an associated member. Today, LESS AISBL is a truly European initiative, backed by 28 steel companies from 8 countries across the continent.