Environment

Vertically Integrated Raw Materials for Cleaner Steel

Cleveland-Cliffs operates a strategic portfolio of iron and steel technologies including efficient blast furnaces and BOFs, EAFs and a modern DR plant to produce HBI. Our extensive steelmaking capabilities through our vertically integrated value chain—iron ore pellets from U.S.-based mines to HBI to steel scrap from our FPT business—ensures we’ll continue to meet the growing demand for steel made sustainably without experiencing global supply chain shortages from imported raw materials. Steel is the most recycled material on the planet, and all of Cleveland-Cliffs’ steel is made with recycled content.

Environmental Stewardship

Protecting the Environment

Our environmental policy is based on an understanding that we have a responsibility to preserve the environment for future generations.

View Our Environmental Policy

Our Performance

We are tracking our progress on key performance metrics to minimize our environmental impacts: reducing direct and indirect emissions, implementing energy efficiency measures, optimizing our use of water, and reducing waste.

See Our Sustainability Performance Data

ISO 14001:2015 Certified

Many of our facilities have obtained International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14001 certification. Our Environmental Management System (EMS) establishes procedures, assigns responsibility, monitors performance and enables us to anticipate and address potential impacts before they occur.

More About Our ISO 14001:2015 Certified Facilities

Environmental Management

Cleveland-Cliffs takes great pride in our environmental management program and efforts. Our business is highly regulated, and we understand the importance of maintaining compliance and going beyond what is expected to be a good corporate citizen. We comply with all necessary permits, laws, rules and regulations related to environmental impacts, and we continuously seek ways to improve our environmental management system.

More About Our Plans to Reduce GHGs

Emissions

Cleveland-Cliffs regularly tracks our progress against our goal of 25% reduction of combined absolute Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 2030 from 2017 levels. In 2022, Cliffs’ Scope 1 and 2 emissions were already below our reduction goal ahead of the target year of 2030.

More about Emissions Reduction

Energy

As an energy-intensive business, energy efficiency is a key focus for Cleveland-Cliffs. As a proud member of the DOE’s Better Plants Program, we are committed to reducing energy intensity 10% over 10 years.

Water

Water is a vital input to Cleveland-Cliffs’ iron and steelmaking operations. Though Cleveland-Cliffs does not operate in known areas of water stress, it’s important for us to responsible stewards of this finite resource.

More about Water Stewardship

Waste

Iron and steelmaking generate byproduct waste, and Cleveland-Cliffs optimizes these wastes through recycling and reuse wherever possible.

More about Waste Optimization