The University of New South Wales (UNSW) SMaRT Centre and the Steel Research and Technology Mission of India (SRTMI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on green steel manufacturing, decarbonisation, and advanced steel technologies. The agreement emphasises sustainable production methods using recycled materials in steelmaking.
The MoU was formalised at the India Steel Expo 2025 by Neha Verma, Director of SRTMI, and Dipankar Chakraborty, Managing Director of UNSW South Asia. The collaboration builds on bilateral trade initiatives under the Australia India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement and includes cross-border research, industry-led training, and knowledge exchange.
A key focus is UNSW SMaRT Centre’s Green Steel™ Polymer Injection Technology (PIT), which replaces imported carbon-based inputs such as coal and coke with recycled rubber from end-of-life tyres and other materials. The process is applied in electric arc furnace (EAF) steelmaking and aims to reduce emissions and improve resource efficiency.
UNSW SMaRT Centre Director Veena Sahajwalla stated, “Climate change and clean energy narratives often overlook the need for more sustainable manufacturing and waste management practices, where we start to use waste resources for future manufacturing needs.” She added, “By working collaboratively with partners we have been able to prove that polymer injection works and is commercially viable.”
The global steel industry, which is heavily dependent on coal, faces pressure to reduce carbon emissions as demand for steel is projected to grow by 30% by 2050. Green Steel™ PIT addresses this challenge by providing an alternative to hydrogen infrastructure in the short term. The process makes use of the hydrogen and carbon content in waste rubber to support efficient steel production while reducing emissions.
UNSW’s Centre for Sustainable Materials Research and Technology (SMaRT) conducts research in recycling and sustainable manufacturing. Its Green Steel™ work is part of broader initiatives focused on circular economy principles, converting waste into resources for commercial applications through partnerships with industry.