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Steel News October 11, 2017 01:30:00 PM

Report Spotlights Steel Innovations That Lead to Sustainable Solutions

Paul Ploumis
ScrapMonster Author
As per estimates, nearly 7.2 million tonnes (Mt) of steel packaging is recycled every year. This results in savings of 11 Mt of CO2 equivalents as compared with steel production using virgin raw materials.

Report Spotlights Steel Innovations That Lead to Sustainable Solutions

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): A new report released by the World Steel Association (worldsteel) highlights the significant environmental benefits of steel products. According to the report, steel products and applications not only help the steel industry but also other industries in reducing their environmental footprint. The report narrates various steel innovations and the ways in which those innovations help in finding sustainable solutions.

Cross-border shipping is one area where use of steel leads to significant energy savings. The convenience provided by shipping of enormous loads leads to consumption of less energy and results in emission of less GHGs as compared with other modes of transportation such as train and lorry truck.

As per estimates, nearly 7.2 million tonnes (Mt) of steel packaging is recycled every year. This results in savings of 11 Mt of CO2 equivalents as compared with steel production using virgin raw materials. In fact, steel is 100% recyclable and is the most recycled material globally. Steel scrap is classified into three main categories-home scrap, prompt scrap and obsolete scrap.

Innovative integrated steel building components help to turn buildings into power stations. These components are used to generate, collect, store and release solar and geothermal energy. Steel also plays prominent role in efficient energy management of existing buildings.

Blast furnace slag-a by-product of steel industry is used in cement production as a substitute for clinker. Substituting clinker with granulated blast furnace slag would allow significant reduction in carbon emissions. Estimates by International Energy Agency (IEA) suggest annual energy savings of up to 500 Million GJ or 200 Mt of CO2. Over the past decade, approximately 29 Mt of slag cement has been consumed in the US.

Modern automobile industry is accountable for extensive use of Advanced High Strength Steel that results in manufacture of lighter and stronger components. As per figures, an average vehicle uses nearly 900 kilograms of steel. The fact that around 95 million vehicles were produced in 2016 suggests that approximately 80 million tonnes of steel were used by the worldwide automotive industry. Steel companies are now focused on development of new grades of innovative high strength steel to cater to rising demand from the automotive sector.

In addition, retired steel applications have been used to create more than 400 artificial reefs around the world. Also, steel slag has been applied successfully in large number of marine forestation projects and can be used as fertilizers and liming materials. Steel allows for reuse of decommissioned steel intensive structures such as oil rigs.

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