Steel: Increasingly the Sustainable Construction Material
Steel sheet piles have long been an sustainable construction material. With a longevity of around 100 years or more, if used in permanent structures, they stand the test of time, preventing continuous expenditure on renewal, renovation or maintenance that may be required with other materials.
Now, steel sheet piles are becoming increasingly green, and a major contributor to a circular economy. The traditional carbon-intensive steel manufacturing industry has come increasingly under the spotlight, with analysts highlighting that it is responsible for 7-9% of all global CO2 emissions. Coal-fuelled blast furnaces are a major obstacle to climate change target-hitting, so the industry has had to change and fast-forward a drive towards sustainability, whilst still satisfying a worldwide hunger for steel within global construction projects.
With so many countries having Net Zero targets to meet by 2050, there is a natural need for manufacturers to focus on greener production. Yet, as we all know, targets can be moved and there has to be more than just imposition from above. The demand for steel will grow by 1.5 times by 2050, according to predictions, whether it is green or not.
As in all markets, suppliers will increase the production of green steel, if contractors demonstrate that this is where their procurement strategy lies right here and right now. Every contractor can play their part in increasing the production of green steel, simply by questioning how green the product they are buying actually is and how much carbon was generated during its production. Prioritising green steel within procurement practice is a sure way to foster more output.
A greener steel product is one produced by the electric arc furnace method, not the blast furnace method. This means that fossil fuels are removed from the manufacturing process, along with all the harm that these do, in terms of CO2 emissions.
The degree to which the furnace is fed by recycled scrap is also important when it comes to pushing the material up the ‘green’ charts. So too is the amount of ‘green energy’ used to power the furnace. Whether any of this is associated with a carbon capture scheme is another factor in the ‘green steel’ calculation. Now, the next step lies in using green hydrogen within the production process, to take things to the next level. This is something that leading manufacturers are now swiftly seeking to bring to fruition, with great strides and a pilot project now underway with our own strategic supply partner EMSTEEL, formerly Emirates Steel Arkan.
Environmental stewardship is continuously being driven by EMSTEEL, which is at the forefront of green steel production. We are proud, here at Sheet Piling UK, to be able to offer contractors some of the greenest steel available in the global market, whilst backing this with the skills of an in-house design team that is continually devising projects in such a way as to minimise the amount of embedded carbon within them.
A competitive advantage can undoubtedly be gained by contractors who opt for green steel. It can assist with the client’s ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) targets, helping to satisfy key stakeholders’ desires to see more sustainability embedded within projects. It presents a better image to all who review the project. It can make a building or development a more desirable purchase for those who only want to support sustainable construction. It can help attract investors who have the same goal.
Steel is increasingly becoming green as well, and the material of choice for those who want the world to be built on a low-carbon basis. To access steel sheet piles that are guaranteed to provide longevity, whilst also satisfying the needs of those focused on low embodied carbon targets, please call us on 01772 794141.
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Sheet Piling (UK) Limited is one of the UK's leading piling contractors. Owning and operating a comprehensive range of specialist piling equipment Sheet Piling (UK) Ltd also carry extensive stocks of new and used piles enabling rapid reaction to any urgent requirements or emergency situations.