The ISO formally approved and released ISO/TR 25088, a guide for low-carbon technology applications in the steel industry, on January 23, 2026. This document represents the first international green standard for the sector led by China.

Spearheaded by the China Metallurgical Information and Standardization Institute, the project incorporates advanced methods such as hydrogen metallurgy and carbon capture.

Major global steel producers, including Japan, Germany, and France, collaborated on the development process.

The standard provides a technical roadmap for system-wide emission reductions. Its publication establishes a framework for global industry rules based on Chinese low-carbon practices, providing a foundation for future industrial restructuring as the sector pursues carbon neutrality goals.