A petition with 30,000 signatures was handed to politicians in Corby earlier this year in April, sending a message that the UK needs a strong green steel industry.
A warehouse equipment manufacturer needs a plentiful supply of tubular steel to make shelving, picking trolleys, packing tables and other essential manual handling and storage equipment. Warehouse owners want more environmentally friendly warehouses, but to produce steel traditionally creates high carbon emissions. Steel producers are developing technologies that reduce carbon emissions to make steel greener. In Europe, France, Germany and the Netherlands, steel manufacturers are transitioning to green steel, but according to the organisers of the petition, the Unite Union, the UK has no long-term plan for green steel.
The steel demand is expected to grow over the next few years, which means that UK steel could have a positive future if politicians support the industry. Unite believes that, with the right long-term government policies, the UK could be a global leader in green steel production.
The Labour Party has pledged to invest £3 billion in UK steel if they come to power in the next election.
Presenting the petition in Corby is significant as the area used to have a thriving steel industry which started making tube steel 90 years ago, but steel production ceased in the 1980s.
As well as reducing carbon emissions during production, UK green steel would need to travel fewer miles to reach a warehouse equipment manufacturer, reducing vehicle carbon emissions.
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