It remains unique among trade groups for the degree of cooperation it has fostered among world steel companies. Ulsab, a project of 35 steel companies from 18 countries, may be the single most important project IISI has initiated. Key to automotive success then will be not just mechanical and structural engineering but also environmental responsibility. Based on data from 55 steel plants of 37 companies on five continents, the IISI LCI study quantifies the use of resources, energy, and environmental emissions involved in producing 13 different steel products. Steel customers can use LCI data to assess steel-using products.
Steel companies can use it as a tool to track their environmental performance.
Although the data represents 30 percent of the world's steel output, it doesn't include data from Russia or mainland China, whose mills generally have higher emissions. It's a matter of months before Polish companies join. Mainland China is another matter. Showing admirable integrity, the IISI board of directors elected Chung-Yu Wang, chairman of ROC company China Steel, vice chairman of IISI in October. IISI's role as a forum in which members exchange best practices in technology, environmental protection, personnel policies, energy efficiency, and market development could be of great value to producers in mainland China.