Global Gathering Galvanises Green Goals

On July 9 and 10, the coastal city of Qingdao welcomed over 160 participants for the 2025 WorldSteel Life Cycle Assessment and Industrial Coordinated & Innovative Development Conference. Jointly hosted by the World Steel Association and HBIS Group, and organised by Dahe Metal, this landmark event brought together leading figures from steel, home appliances, construction, automotive sectors, and academic institutions. It reflected a shared commitment to advancing sustainability through life cycle assessment and coordinated industrial growth. Worldsteel Deputy Director General Zhong Shaoliang chaired the opening ceremony, setting the tone for two days of discussion on decarbonisation, data-driven transparency, and supply chain collaboration.

Visionary Voices Validate Vital Ventures

Worldsteel Director General Edwin Basson, in his keynote titled Global Steel Industry Sustainable Development and Standardized Valuation System Construction, highlighted how global Net Zero initiatives are reshaping industries and standards worldwide. “Steel, as a kind of global industry, decarbonisation dynamics is prone to electric arc furnace share, direct reduced iron, green H₂, blast furnace and converter optimisation, grid strength, and carbon capture, use and storage,” Basson explained. He stressed that worldsteel, in partnership with other international organisations and associations, plays a pivotal role in developing fair, accurate and transparent systems to calculate steel’s carbon footprint, thereby driving down greenhouse gas emissions and fostering trust across global markets.

HBIS Heralds Harmonious Horizons

HBIS Chairman Liu Jian shared concrete achievements and strategies grounded in practice. “LCA and collaborative development has become a key path for promoting green and low carbon transition,” Liu explained. He emphasised that by embedding life cycle assessment in operations and fostering innovation, HBIS has strengthened industry and supply chain cooperation. “Global steel enterprises would continue to strengthen industry and supply chain innovation and cooperation by practising LCA concept, to deep explore and apply systematic carbon reduction solutions, and could do more in achieving carbon peaking and carbon neutrality and sustainable development,” Liu noted. Expressing openness, Liu added, “HBIS is willing to cooperate with global peers and industry chain players, to commonly promote steel industry with accelerated pace in green and low carbon road, and continue to contribute more green and sustainable steel goods.”

Chinese Cohesion & Commitment Celebrated

Chinese Iron & Steel Association Deputy Director Liu Andong underscored the steady progress in China’s steel sector. “The green and low carbon reform of Chinese steel industry had made progress, and a green industry chain was taking shape,” Liu said. He pledged strong support for worldsteel’s LCA initiatives, highlighting the importance of building mutual trust and recognition. “As ever, Chinese Iron and Steel Association will support and join LCA efforts of worldsteel and build a mutual trust and mutual recognized partnership to give Chinese efforts in the low carbon development of the world,” Liu affirmed. He concluded with an optimistic vision: “The green development of world steel industry could also benefit from green and low carbon sustainable innovations to strengthen its key contribution in world economy to create a brighter future.”

Home & Hearth Harmonised by Haier

Li Huagang, Senior Deputy President of Haier Group and Chairman & President of Haier Intelligent, drew attention to the deep, often overlooked connection between steel and household appliances. “Steel and household appliances are mutually prosperous industry ecosystem and also are collaborated innovative and essential sectors,” Li said. He stressed that this cooperation is not just about technology, but about responsibility to society and the environment. “The collaboration is not merely a technological proposition, it is more a sustainable development topic of mankind,” Li explained. Looking ahead, he called for industries to co-build authoritative standards to guide green transformation, share cutting-edge platforms, and collectively embrace climate responsibility. “Haier is willing to join hands with global partners with an open attitude, transforming the one-way supply of the industrial chain into value co-creation, enabling every piece of steel to carry the green mission and every household appliance to tell the story of coordinated development,” Li concluded.

Launch Lights LCA+ Landmark

In a symbolic moment at the opening ceremony, Liu Jian, Edwin Basson, Liu Andong and Li Huagang jointly pressed the button unveiling the LCA+ Project. Developed collaboratively by worldsteel and HBIS, the LCA+ solution applies life cycle assessment not only to carbon tracking but also creatively integrates “beautifully life indexes” for metal decoration products. This innovative approach aims to transform building decoration by aligning aesthetics with sustainability, demonstrating how LCA can extend its reach beyond production to enrich daily life with environmentally responsible design choices.

Roundtables Reveal Rich Reflections

Throughout the conference, a series of keynote reports and roundtable discussions delved into specific sectors: green development in the construction industry, coordinated cooperation between the automotive sector and its supply chain, and the creation of data platforms and intelligence systems for better LCA integration. Delegates from worldsteel, WTO, HBIS Group, Haier Group, construction steel and automotive unions, along with academic experts, shared data, research, and strategies to embed life cycle thinking at every stage. Lively discussions highlighted how accurate, real-time carbon data can guide decision-making, reduce emissions, and align industrial development with national and international climate goals.

Shared Strategy Sparks Sustainable Synergies

The conference, under the theme of innovation in life cycle assessment and supply chain systems, highlighted the urgency of uniting upstream and downstream industry players. By creating more efficient, data-driven and transparent supply chains, the steel industry can make real progress toward carbon peaking and neutrality. Participants left with renewed commitment: to apply LCA in daily operations, share best practices, and transform steel into a driver of sustainable, low-carbon growth worldwide.

Key Takeaways

• Over 160 experts, scholars & industry leaders gathered in Qingdao for in-depth LCA discussions.

• Edwin Basson, Liu Jian, Liu Andong & Li Huagang stressed LCA, cooperation & data transparency.

• The LCA+ Project creatively combines green goals & aesthetics in metal decoration.