SUSTAIN Conference 2026

3rd Sustainability in Steel Conference | SUSTAIN Conference 2026
Tuesday 10th & Wednesday 11th March 2026
Marriott Hotel Cardiff

Join us for the SUSTAIN Conference 2026, a landmark event celebrating the achievements of the SUSTAIN Future Steel Manufacturing Research Hub and showcasing the progress made in sustainable steelmaking over the past seven years.

This two-day conference will bring together leading voices from academia, industry, and policy to explore the latest innovations, research breakthroughs, and collaborative efforts driving sustainability in the steel sector. With a focus on the SUSTAIN Grand Challenges and Themes, the event will offer a dynamic platform for knowledge exchange, networking, and future-focused dialogue.

Attendees can look forward to:

  • Inspiring keynote presentations from thought leaders in steel and sustainability

  • Interactive panel discussions tackling the sector’s most pressing challenges

  • Hands-on workshops designed to spark innovation and practical solutions

  • Opportunities to contribute to a special issue of the Ironmaking & Steelmaking Journal

Whether you're a researcher, industry professional, or policymaker, the SUSTAIN Conference 2026 is your opportunity to be part of shaping the future of sustainable steelmaking in the UK and beyond.

Information about Registration and Travel & Accommodation will be available soon.

Conference Themes

  • The Iron Cycle

    Foundations for Circular Steelmaking

    Understanding the processes by which iron is extracted, converted, used and recycled are key as steelmaking moves towards a more circular consumption model. As the UK moves towards Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) steelmaking, understanding the quality, composition and properties of domestically available scrap steel is of increasing importance.

  • Designing Sustainable Steel

    Product Metallurgy for Circularity

    Metallurgy is a core aspect of steelmaking, regardless of production method. Steel is a key material for a sustainable future, and ensuring specifications are correct for intended use is critical. New processes and new products fit for circularity must be developed, and ensuring these are robust is crucial to continue to support decarbonisation across all sectors.

  • Smart Steelmaking

    Digitalisation and Sensors in Action

    Sensor integration and digital technologies such as AI, machine learning, and digital twins enable real-time monitoring, process optimisation, and data-driven decision-making in steelmaking. These tools can be used to enhance product quality, manufacturing efficiency, and contribute to improving sustainability of the industry.

  • Harnessing Heat

    Improving Thermal Efficiency in Steelmaking

    Heat is an unavoidable by-product of steelmaking, that is currently underutilised. Whilst increasing thermal efficiency of existing equipment is a key factor, heat will always be released during steelmaking. Ongoing research is investigating the feasibility of capture and conversion of waste heat for commercial and domestic use.

  • Emissions to Innovation

    Reducing Emissions and Capturing Value

    There are many stages during steelmaking process where carbon is added, use, transformed and released. Through better understanding of these processes, steps can be taken to reduce the carbon footprint of the steel industry on the road to net zero. This session will focus on where carbon is found in steelmaking processes and the potential for capture and conversion of emitted carbon into useful products.