According to Outokumpu, the line, Outokumpu Circle Green, is the world’s least emissions-intensive stainless steel, with a carbon footprint that is 92% lower than the global average and 64% lower than Outokumpu’s regular production.

“We see increasing global customer demand for low-carbon-footprint stainless steels, from construction to heavy industry and consumer products. I’m very happy to say that Outokumpu is now ready to answer this demand. In this first phase, we will concentrate our efforts to serve a few strategic customers, but we are already looking at ways to scale up the production,” said Niklas Wass, Outokumpu executive vice president for operations.

The company said it achieved the emissions reductions through improvements along the entire production chain.

“Reductions in upstream raw material emissions were key to this success as they contribute the majority of stainless steel’s total carbon footprint. Meticulous production and quality optimization led to higher energy efficiency. Biogas, biodiesel, bio coke, and low-carbon electricity have been used in production to eliminate 95% of all scope 1 and 2 CO₂ emissions,” the company said.

The first batch of Circle Green was produced earlier this spring at the company’s Tornio, Finland, plant and was delivered to cookware maker Fiskars.

“Sustainability is a key element of our Fiskars Group Growth Strategy. We can only achieve our ambitious sustainability targets through partnerships. This collaboration with Outokumpu is a great example of pioneering design applied at every step of the product’s journey; from innovative, lower emission raw materials to long-lasting, quality cookware,” said Fiskars Group chief executive Nathalie Ahlström.