Sustainability

Stainless Steel's Sustainable Advantage

Sustainability is an increasingly important aspect of architectural design, and comparisons of the environmental impact of construction materials have become common. When these analyses are done, stainless steel is consistently one of the most environmentally friendly construction materials used today.

In exterior applications, there is a direct correlation between corrosion resistance and long-term ‘sustainable’ performance. Corrosion can lead to aesthetic or structural failure that can require premature replacement. When any material has to be replaced, a building's negative environmental impact is increased.

Building sites with higher pollution levels, deicing or coastal salt exposure, and/or acid rain can suffer accelerated deterioration of construction materials. Molybdenum-containing stainless steels like Types 316, 444, and even more corrosion resistant alloys provide the necessary aesthetic and corrosion performance in these environments.

The selection tools, case studies and climate & pollution data provided on this website help decision makers select the right stainless steel for any environment. Two recent feature articles in North American magazines highlight the contributions stainless steels are making to sustainable design:

Stainless steel is 100-percent recyclable with no down-cycling, regardless of how many times it is recycled. Stainless steel producers use as much recycled content as possible. In 2002, the International Stainless Steel Forum (ISSF) estimated typical recycled content of stainless steels at about 60%. The Specialty Steel Industry of North America (SSINA) issued a Fact Sheet stating that 300 series stainless steels produced in North America, like Type 316, have a post-consumer recycled content of 75 to 85%. Some stainless steel producers report as much as 90% recycled content for their most common stainless steels

Researchers at the Center for Industrial Ecology at Yale University in New Haven, CT and the National Institute for Environmental Studies in Tsukuba, Japan, have examined the international life cycle of stainless steel in depth, including typical service life and end-of-life (EOL) recapture rates by application. In the building and infrastructure segment, they estimated that 92% of stainless steel is collected for recycling at the end of life. Their article published in Environmental Science & Technology provides details on this and other end-use markets.

See "Global Stainless Steel Cycle Exemplifies China's Rise to Metal Dominance."

As the table below demonstrates, this makes stainless steel one of the most environmentally friendly metals available for construction.

Typical Recycled Content and End-of-Life Collection Ratio


Metal Product

Recycled Content (%)

EOL Collection Ratio (%)

Carbon Steel

    Integrated mills

25-35

70 (sheet/strip)

    Mini mills

≤95

97 (beams, plate)

Stainless Steel

60 - 90

92

Zinc

23

33

Copper

    Electrical wire

0

>90

    Other products

70 - 95

>90

Aluminum (11)

    Sheet

0

70

    Extrusions

varies

70

    Castings

≤100

70

Table references:
“Comparing the Sustainability of Architectural Metals,” Catherine Houska and Dr. Steven Young, The Construction Specifier, July 2006, pgs. 80 – 90.
"Global Stainless Steel Cycle Exemplifies China's Rise to Metal Dominance," Environmental Science & Technology.

Molybdenum-containing stainless steel conserves natural resources in many ways. It does not contribute to landfill waste or require frequent replacement. It is possible to use thinner stainless steel panels, and reduce heat gain and air-conditioning costs through good design. Furthermore, stainless steel does not require coating to prevent corrosion, eliminating the release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and associated toxic run-off. Stainless steel products are an excellent choice to protect the environment and create comfortable, attractive structures. Go to the Interactive International Stainless Steel Forum (ISSF) site, Stainless Steel for a Greener World to learn more about this remarkable material.

See also: