The iron and steel industries are major polluters, but Helix Carbon believes the key to decarbonization lies in cleaning up, not replacing, blast furnaces. By recycling the carbon dioxide emissions from these giant furnaces, the company promises to slash emissions while boosting profit margins.

Traditionally, blast furnaces use coke, a processed form of coal, to turn iron ore into metallic iron. The process generates vast amounts of CO2, which is typically released directly into the atmosphere. Helix Carbon’s solution is to convert this waste CO2 back into carbon monoxide and recycle it into the blast furnace, reducing the need for coke and cutting CO2 emissions.

Despite debates over the exact efficiency of this process, Helix Carbon suggests a conservative start: replacing 33% of coke could save $14 per ton of iron. While this may seem small, the company argues it’s a significant win for an industry with notoriously thin margins.

The market for iron and steel is massive, valued at over $2 trillion, making it an attractive target for innovation. However, the industry’s slow pace of change due to the longevity of its equipment poses a challenge. Helix Carbon plans to first target the specialty chemicals industry, seeing an opportunity in utilizing waste streams to produce chemicals on-site.

With a live pitch at TechCrunch Disrupt, Helix Carbon is looking to make its mark. Whether it can succeed remains to be seen, but its approach could be a game-changer for an industry that needs both innovation and stability.