The news comes at a time when data centres are an increasing source of construction demand. These giant warehouses filled with processors can use hundreds鈥攁nd even thousands鈥攐f kilometres of cabling. And they have faced widespread criticism for their environmental impact. In 2022, Legrand acquired UK cooling specialist USystems, as it targeted the growing UK data centre market.
The company has been gradually increasing the proportion of green steel in its cable management products since 2024. The steel is produced using large proportions of steel scrap in an electric arc furnace, powered by renewable energy. This cuts the carbon emissions associated with its production by 70%, compared with traditional blast furnace methods.
The electricity used in the green steel sourced by Legrand is independently verified as from sustainable sources, with a guarantee of origin. By using renewable energy combined with minimum scrap content of 75%,聽emissions are reduced for every tonne of finished cold rolled聽steel. This combination of renewable energy and reusing scrap delivers a reduction聽from 2.38t of emitted CO2E (carbon-dioxide equivalent), to as little as 799kg CO2E.
The use of green steel is already contributing to reducing Legrand鈥檚 Scope 3 supply chain emissions and builds on its progress in respect of its direct Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions. Legrand holds the EcoVadis Platinum medal, having achieved a sustainability rating in the top 1% of organisations assessed by EcoVadis, the world鈥檚 largest provider of business sustainability ratings.
Pascal Stutz, CEO at Legrand UK & Ireland, said: 鈥淲hile many businesses are still getting to grips with the challenge of reducing Scope 1 and 2 emissions, we are making significant progress in reducing our Scope 3 emissions, with those reductions passing on to our customers.鈥�
The use of green steel is just one of the sustainability initiatives undertaken by Legrand UK & Ireland. Measures also include the installation of solar panels at its Consett and Cramlington sites, as well as sourcing wider electricity supplies generated from renewable sources.