Is Steel Sustainable?
In today's rapidly evolving building sector, steel stands as a powerful ally, addressing the growing demand for eco-conscious solutions. Beyond its renowned reliability and adaptability, steel emerges as a sustainability champion, shaping the future of construction while bolstering the economy. Imagine this: the energy needed to craft a single tonne of steel has plummeted by an astonishing 40% since 1960. Picture a staggering 25 billion tonnes of steel in use worldwide — that's akin to fifty thousand colossal aircraft carriers, each with an astounding empty weight of 500,000 tonnes. Steel isn't just a building material; it's a transformative force, leading the charge towards a greener, more resilient future.
The steel industry can consistently reduce its carbon emissions to provide a more sustainable, low-carbon material through cross-collaboration and communication, resource use, operations efficiency, and intelligent and innovative design, claims the Australian Institute of Steel (AIS), the country's steel supply chain representative.
(1)Each year, Australia witnesses the recycling of approximately 1.0 million tonnes of steel, transforming heavy steel, machinery, rails and even domestic scrap into valuable resources. Recycling one tonne of steel not only saves significant amounts of iron ore, limestone and coal but also contributes to a substantial reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
Another of the main reasons why Steel is considered environmentally friendly is its recyclable nature. One of steel's most important and unmatched environmental advantages is its ability to be reused and recycled into new steel products. (3) According to the World Steel Association, steel is by far the most recycled material in the world, with 650 Mt or more than 80% recycled per year.
(2) In Australia, metals are recycled at a rate of 76%, meaning that a significant portion of metal waste is collected, processed, and reused. This recycling rate is higher than that of paper (65%), plastics (18%), and glass (58%) waste, indicating the efficiency of metal recycling efforts in the country.
Steel possesses unique metallurgical properties, ensuring that it can be recycled endlessly without losing its quality. This means it can be melted down and repurposed indefinitely, unlike some other materials which degrade during recycling processes. For instance, creating steel cans from recycled steel demands 75% less energy than producing them from raw materials.
In addition to energy savings, recycling steel has profound environmental benefits. By recycling just 1 kg of steel, we prevent 2 kg of greenhouse gasses from entering the atmosphere. Moreover, steel recycling reduces the burden on landfills and helps conserve precious raw materials. To put it into perspective, for every tonne of steel recycled, we save 1131 kg of iron ore, 633 kg of coal, and 54 kg of limestone, contributing significantly to a more sustainable future.
Utilizing steel in house construction brings inherent energy efficiency throughout the year. The robustness of steel components like lintels and t-bars facilitates the incorporation of superior insulation. During winter, heating demands are significantly reduced due to the efficient insulation. Similarly, in summer, steel-framed homes enhance indoor air quality and decrease humidity levels, eliminating the need for energy-intensive devices like dehumidifiers and air purifiers.
However, it's worth noting that even though steel stands as one of the most environmentally friendly materials globally, overcoming the challenge of decarbonization remains a key concern, as highlighted in a 2021 report by EY (4).
Constructing with wood and alternative materials often results in harmful environmental consequences due to the generation of unusable offcuts. Steel, in contrast, is tailor-made by skilled steel fabricators, and precisely crafted for each project, minimizing wastage significantly. Additionally, the waste produced from wood construction necessitates the removal of old timber, compounding environmental impact.
At Modern Steel Group, whether you need a prefabricated steel frame for a commercial project or a personal undertaking, choosing a trusted steel fabricator is crucial. Our team of skilled designers and assemblers is dedicated to sourcing top-notch products that are easy to implement and budget-friendly for projects requiring steel framing.
We prioritize service and professionalism. Modern Steel Group takes pride in adhering to Australian standards and regulations, ensuring the production of high-quality steel framing solutions for both residential and commercial projects.
(1) https://www.cityservices.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/1368621/NOWaste-Steel-Factsheet_Update-March-2022_ACCESS.pdf
(4) https://www.ey.com/en_id/mining-metals/five-actions-to-improve-the-sustainability-of-steel
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