Stegra joins LESS aisbl to back unified EU label for low-emission steel

Swedish steel producer Stegra has become the latest member of LESS aisbl, the Brussels-based non-profit working to establish a unified, credible label for low- and near-zero emission steel across Europe.

LESS aims to make decarbonisation efforts in the steel sector transparent and comparable across technologies. With around 45 percent of European steel output now represented among its members, the group is pushing for its label to become the standard across the EU.

Stegra – formerly H2 Green Steel – is currently building its first integrated plant for green hydrogen, iron and steel in Boden, northern Sweden. Production is expected to start in 2026, with an announced capex of €6.5 billion. The company says it will produce only low-emission steel from the outset.

“We are building a company that will only produce steel with close to zero emissions from day one,” said Niklas Wass, head of Boden operations at Stegra. “For us, a credible and transparent label like LESS is essential to demonstrate the decarbonization level of our products and to enable access to future-oriented markets. We believe LESS should be adopted as the official EU-label for low and near zero emission steel.”

Dr. Carmen Ostwald, secretary general of LESS aisbl, welcomed Stegra’s membership as “a reinforcement of our mission to build a harmonized framework for low-emission steel and to accelerate the sector’s transition toward climate neutrality.”

The move comes as the European steel industry faces growing political and market pressure to reduce carbon emissions. By joining LESS, Stegra positions itself at the forefront of transparency and standardisation in low-emission steelmaking.

Source and Photo: LESS aisbl