Embodied carbon is the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the upstream stage of a product’s lifecycle – raw materials, manufacturing, and transport – also known as cradle-to-gate. Low-embodied carbon steel is steel produced with low cradle-to-gate carbon emissions.

Econiq certification can be used to address Scopes 1, 2 and/or 3 emissions based on your sustainability goals.

Scope 1 refers to direct emissions from a company’s operations. Nucor’s Scope 1 comes from the steelmaking process. Scope 2 refers to emissions from purchased electricity generation. Scope 3 emissions refers to emissions attributed to the upstream and downstream operations of a company. For Nucor, Scope 3 emissions are created primarily through the raw materials required in our steelmaking operations.

We achieve net-zero on Econiq steel products by using electricity from 100% renewable and/or carbon-free sources (to offset Scope 2 emissions) and by purchasing high-quality carbon offsets (to offset Scope 1 and/or 3 emissions).

We are currently offsetting all Scope 1 emissions on Econiq certified products through the purchase of high-quality carbon offsets. At the same time, we are actively exploring multiple technologies and processes to reduce our Scope 1 emissions across all products.

Depending on the producing facility, Nucor uses carbon-free electricity from purchased power agreements and other purchased renewable electricity to balance our Scope 2 emissions.

We are currently offsetting all Scope 3 emissions on Econiq certified products through the purchase of high-quality carbon offsets.

When steel purchasers buy Econiq, they reduce their own Scope 3 emissions and the products they make have a certified low or zero carbon footprint related to the (Econiq) steel they are made with.

The Econiq certification can be applied to any steel product within the Nucor family, as well as to any steel construction project utilizing Nucor’s steel products.

Econiq is available through all of Nucor’s existing sales channels. Please contact your Nucor sales representative for more information about Econiq.