The company estimates that Circle Green has up to a 93% lower carbon footprint than the global industry average. Alstom said this is in line with its goal to reduce emissions from procured goods and services by 30% by 2030. It will allow the company to integrate a higher steel scrap content rate in its products. 

“Remaining competitive and accelerating the green transition is fundamental to Europe’s future… The Circle Green contract with Alstom is volume-wise the biggest for us in the mobility sector and is due to be used in a first metro car project in Europe,” said Rolf Schencking, president for business line advanced materials at Outokumpu. 

Outokumpu said Circle Green was the first innovation of its kind to reach a global scale with such a low carbon footprint with a product-specific footprint calculation for every delivery. They estimate over 40 companies across Europe and Asia now use this solution to lower their carbon footprint. 

“Outokumpu’s Circle Green will be used for the outer layer of the metro cars,” said Véronique Andriès, sustainability and corporate social responsibility vice president at Alstom. 

“Using stainless steel with lower carbon emissions compared to standard steel, will contribute in our efforts to significantly reduce our CO₂ emissions,” Andriès continued. 

The companies said the first delivery is scheduled for 2026.