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ArcelorMittal hosts SOVAMAT ‘Society & Materials’ Seminar

Date

12 May 2011

Sections

Climate & Environment
Energy
Sustainable Dev.

World’s leading steel company uses SAM5 to articulate steel’s contribution to a sustainable society

METZ, France – 11 May 2011: ArcelorMittal, the world’s leading steel company, today plays host to the Social Value of Materials’ (SOVAMAT) 5th International Seminar on Society and Materials (SAM5).

This year’s two-day SOVAMAT conference (11-12 May), which takes place at the Institut Européen d’Ecologie in Metz, North-East France, brings together experts from across the academic, industrial and scientific communities to discuss the evolving connection between society and materials.

SOVAMAT is a consortium of material producers that includes manufacturers of steel, nonferrous metals, concrete, cardboard, wood, glass, plastics and composites. The overarching objective of this group is to define the role structural materials will play in the post-carbon economy that will emerge during the 21st century and prepare stakeholders across the value chain for this transition.

Since 2007, SOVAMAT’s annual conferences have provoked lively debate on the role
materials will play in building this sustainable future, embracing not only technical experts but also social-economists, sociologists, historians, ecologists, Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) specialists, eco-designers and policymakers.

Key themes to be discussed at this year’s event include the latest developments in LCA; how to project materials production and consumption beyond 2050; sustainable design trends; and how biodiversity can be integrated into sustainability metrics.
“We’re proud to be supporting this fifth annual SOVAMAT conference as it reflects our
corporate ambition of delivering Safe, Sustainable Steel,” comments Jean-Pierre Birat, Head of Sustainability for ArcelorMittal’s Global R&D division, who will deliver SAM5’s opening keynote. “As customers place increasing emphasis on the environmental impact of materials across the life-cycle, and not just during the ‘use’ phase, so we are confident that steel’s advantages as an eminently-recyclable material will make it an important cornerstone of a sustainable future,” he adds.

More information on SOVAMAT and the SAM5 conference can be viewed here:


http://www.sovamat.org/

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About ArcelorMittal

ArcelorMittal is the world's leading steel company, with operations in more than 60 countries. ArcelorMittal is the leader in all major global steel markets, including automotive, construction, household appliances and packaging, with leading R&D and technology, as well as sizeable captive supplies of raw materials and outstanding distribution networks.

With an industrial presence in over 20 countries spanning four continents, the Company
covers all of the key steel markets, from emerging to mature.

Through its core values of Sustainability, Quality and Leadership, ArcelorMittal commits to operating in a responsible way with respect to the health, safety and wellbeing of its
employees, contractors and the communities in which it operates. It is also committed to the sustainable management of the environment and of finite resources. ArcelorMittal
recognises that it has a significant responsibility to tackle the global climate change
challenge; it takes a leading role in the industry's efforts to develop breakthrough
steelmaking technologies and is actively researching and developing steel-based
technologies and solutions that contribute to combat climate change.

In 2010, ArcelorMittal had revenues of $78.0 billion and crude steel production of 90.6 million tonnes, representing approximately 8 per cent of world steel output.

ArcelorMittal is listed on the stock exchanges of New York (MT), Amsterdam (MT), Paris (MT), Brussels (MT), Luxembourg (MT) and on the Spanish stock exchanges of Barcelona, Bilbao, Madrid and Valencia (MTS).

For more information about ArcelorMittal visit: www.arcelormittal.com