Why the Steel Industry Should Now be Considered Green

The steel industry has been one of the most successful stories in the progressive green movement. The steel product is very green by its own merits as well. The material is extremely versatile, durable and recyclable. Throughout the past century, the world has produced steel at an exponential rate, all while decreasing the amount of energy used for the improved production.

Generally speaking, steel is composed of two materials: iron ore and scrap metal. Steel is nearly 100 percent recyclable. Steel is the most recycled material in North America. Approximately 73 million tons were recycled during 2006. The industry has been recycling steel products for approximately 160 years. Steel has a material efficiency of 98 percent; there is virtually no waste in the fabrication process. Since the year 1900, over 22 billion tons of steel have been recycled.

Corporations and major nations across the globe have made a concerted effort to consistently improve efficacy in steel production. The world has grown from producing 600 metric tons in 1970 to producing around 1,500 metric tons of steel during 2010. However, from 1975 to 2005, Europe, Japan and North America were able to reduce the amount of energy used to produce steel by approximately 50 percent. China has increased its steel production by approximately 500 percent since 1990—the country currently produces nearly 45 percent of the world’s steel.

One of the few downsides of steel production, whether you are making steel tubes and pipes or beams for buildings, is the amount of coal needed to fuel the process. However, according to data produced by the EPA, between 2005 and 1995, the steel industry was able to decrease the emissions of carbon elements by approximately 47 percent. Steel corporations have the highest emissions reduction rate of any industry. In 2009, Brazil began replacing coal fuel with charcoal collected from eucalyptus plats in an effort to make steel production in the industry even greener.

The primary reasoning behind producing new steel is to replace large, long-term durable goods like automobiles and construction material. The frequency of injuries in the industry has also decreased significantly since 2005. There are approximately two million people employed with a direct connection to the steel industry. Steel is also qualified as one of the best LEED certified materials currently available. Aside from minimizing waste, steel is stable and provides several indirect benefits like improved HVAC performance due to reduced air loss.

Adequate steel supply is one of the most essential components to any successful industrialized civilization. The steel industry leading the green initiative, and producing an abundant supply, may create a more apt environment for fostering economic growth throughout the near future.