Updated EPD results show decrease in GWP

BlueScope marks a significant milestone: ten years of Environmental Product Declarations, and the latest updates show decreases in GWP.

Since publishing our first EPD’s in 2015, we’ve strengthened our commitment to environmental transparency with every new EPD. We've continued to invest in understanding the impacts of our operations, measuring our processes, and communicating third party verified data about the environmental performance of our products. This April, we published updated EPDs for three key uncoated steel products –XLERPLATE® steel, Hot Rolled Coil, and Welded Beams and Columns – reflecting a decade of rigorous measurement and disclosure.

"BlueScope’s ten year milestone in Environmental Product Declaration publication is a remarkable achievement. As one of Australia’s earliest EPD owners, BlueScope has consistently championed transparency and verified product data, paving the way for broader EPD uptake across the Australian built environment," said Kelly Taylor, CEO of EPD Australasia.

“BlueScope’s long-term investment in high-quality life cycle assessment work shows real leadership in building trusted environmental data. Their decade-long partnership with thinkstep-anz has helped create credible EPDs that support better decision-making across the value chain.” Barbara Nebel, CEO thinkstep-anz

What's changed: updated EPD results

In this latest update, comparing the newly published EPD’s to the previous 2020 EPD’s, the results for XLERPLATE® steel, Hot Rolled Coil, and Welded Beams and Columns show a decrease in Global Warming Potential¹ (GWP):

• Hot Rolled Coil: GWP decrease of 4.5%
• XLERPLATE® steel: GWP decrease of 7.0%
• Welded Beams and Columns: GWP decrease of 3.9%

These improvements are primarily driven by increased scrap utilisation in our steelmaking process, with greater use of recycled scrap steel displacing virgin iron ore inputs, as well as process improvements.

It is worth noting that EPDs carry a tolerance of ±10%, and since these GWP reductions fall within that threshold, they should be understood in that context. The reductions are, however, broadly consistent with our reported decarbonisation progress at Port Kembla Steelworks over the past 10 years.

As well as identifying trends over time, EPDs also help us to identify opportunities for improvement. In that sense, EPDs are not just a reporting tool, but a continuous improvement tool and integral to our sustainability and climate action commitments.

Grounded in product-specific, third-party verified data

Some EPDs are based on industry-average data. While useful as a general benchmark, they are not specific to any one manufacturer’s products or processes. At BlueScope, every published EPD is specific to our products and based on a detailed life cycle assessment of our operations.

We invest significant time and resources analysing our manufacturing processes, measuring inputs and outputs, and ensuring our data is accurate and representative. That work is then independently verified by a third-party verifier before publication, giving confidence that the results reflect actual products rather than a sector-wide estimate.

“This level of detail matters,” says Pip Stone, Sustainability Manager at BlueScope. “It gives our customers confidence that the data they are using reflects actual BlueScope products, supporting more informed decisions across design and procurement and facilitating accurate reporting. What is especially pleasing is seeing the number of customers who have published their own EPDs using BlueScope EPDs as inputs. This is supply chain collaboration and transparency in action.”

Ten years on, BlueScope’s commitment to transparency and collaboration remains strong. We look forward to driving further improvements in our operations, and supporting our customers with credible, verified environmental data that they can rely on.

BlueScope EPDs

EPDs are available to download for the following BlueScope products:

• COLORBOND® Coolmax® steel²
• COLORBOND® Intramax® steel²
• COLORBOND® steel for fencing² 
• COLORBOND® steel for insulated panels²
• COLORBOND® steel for roofing and walling²
• COLORBOND® steel Metallic²
• COLORBOND® Ultra steel²
• DECKFORM® steel²
• GALVABOND® steel²
• GALVASPAN® steel²
• Hot rolled coil (updated April 2026)
• TRUECORE® steel²
• TUBEFORM® steel² 
• Welded Beams and Columns (updated April 2026)
• XLERPLATE® steel (updated April 2026)
• ZINC HI-TEN® steel²
• ZINCALUME® steel²
• ZINCANNEAL® steel² 
• ZINCFORM® steel²

Further information

For more information on BlueScope's Environmental Product Declarations and sustainability commitments, visit:

• Environmental Product Declarations
• Climate Action
• Certifications & Credentials