Considering the Environment
Unlike many other countries, the regulations in the United States push steel manufacturers to consider the environment when creating their product. The company Steel Dynamics is a good example of an American steel manufacturer that puts emphasis on environmental factors. They are one of few steel producers that exclusively use Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) technology. As the name suggests, EAF is a process that uses an electric arc to melt scrap steel and other recycled metals into new steel. This technology generates approximately one third of the carbon emissions produced, and energy intensity required, by traditional blast furnace steel-making technology, making it a much more environmentally friendly approach.
Steel Dynamics works to utilize new technologies and processes to reduce the impact on the environment and climate. By utilizing EAF, the company limits their carbon emissions while delivering quality products. Additionally, they offer incentives to employees to create solutions that increase efficiencies, reduce raw material usage, reuse secondary materials, and promote material conservation and recycling.
Though Steel Dynamics is only one of few that exclusively utilize EAF, most United States steel manufacturers use recycled steel. In fact, two thirds of the steel made in the United States comes from recycled scrap.
Scrap Steel
Steel can be easily recycled; it does not have to be sorted by size or color. Steel is also considered one of the most easily recycled materials due to its magnetic properties, which make it easy to separate from other materials during the recycling process. U.S. Steel Manufacturing tells us that recycling scrap metal to produce new steel significantly reduces the carbon footprint compared to traditional steel making processes. Along with helping the environment, it is cost efficient. The primary cost in recycling steel involves the collecting and processing of the steel. In contrast, manufacturing new steel would involve a high cost of mining iron-ore, refining it, and processing it into steel.
Recycling steel impacts pricing substantially, acting as a cost-effective alternative to producing steel from raw materials. The properties that allow the steel to be easily recyclable are also the properties that allow it to retain its strength and durability.
Scrap steel is considered to be just as sturdy as newly produced steel. Steel retains its strength and properties even when recycled. GLE Scrap Metal explains that this means that it can be repeatedly melted down and reused without losing its structural integrity. Because it retains its natural qualities no matter how many times it is recycled, recycled steel can be utilized for anything from construction to cars without any compromises on quality.
In the U.S. about 70 percent of all steel produced is made with recycled materials. About 80 million tons of steel is recycled in the United States each year. This is more than all recycled aluminum, paper, plastic, and glass combined. The United States processes enough ferrous scrap metal each day, by weight, to build twenty-five Eiffel Towers every day of the year. This equates to about $15.9 billion in scrap metal per year. The U.S. also exports more scrap metal than 75 other countries, bested only by Japan, Germany, China, and South Korea. Exporting scrap metal is beneficial for the economy but additionally supports recycling around the globe, reduces the need for new metal mining, and helps preserve natural resources.
U.S. Quality VS. Overseas
The steel created within the United States is generally considered to be of higher quality in comparison to overseas steel. Endura Steel explains that this is mainly due to stricter quality standards and regulations enforced by the U.S., which leads to greater consistency and reliability of the product. In general, the United States tends to also have stricter quality control when it comes to steel manufacturing. The U.S. steel industry is regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
Some overseas steel manufacturers may add elements like boron and chromium to their steel to meet certain classifications. These additives can compromise the steel’s strength and quality. Additionally, American steel has lower oxidation levels than steel from other countries, which allows the steel to be less likely to rust and degrade over time.
The U.S. steel industry has strongly invested in modernizing its production methods. This reduces emissions and waste which benefits the environment and contributes to the quality of the steel. The U.S. has a reputation of producing consistently high-quality steel across different branches. In comparison, many foreign countries still utilize older, more polluting techniques to produce steel. The PSMC (Iron and Steel Industry in Pakistan) states that the highest quality steel in the world is produced by companies in Japan, Germany, and the United States.
Why is U.S. Steel Cleaner?
The Blue Green Alliance describes U.S. steel to be cleaner than steel produced in many other countries. They explain that this is primarily because of stricter environmental regulations in the U.S., which push them to use cleaner technologies and practices. The United States steel manufacturers focus on compliance with environmental laws, including the National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants, Maximum Achievable Control Technology, and Iron and Steel Effluent Guidelines and Standards. They give greater attention to continuous improvement in resource management and actively reducing greenhouse gas emissions through innovation.
By utilizing recycled scrap, the United States significantly reduces its carbon footprint. Additionally, the U.S. often utilizes a cleaner energy mix for steel production, including more natural gas and renewable energy sources, resulting in lower carbon emissions. In fact, the CO2 intensity of steel made in the United States is half of the amount of carbon per ton of steel made in China and India, the world’s largest steel producers.
Conclusion
When considering steel manufacturing, it is beneficial to also consider the environmental impact. The United States is leading the way when it comes to recycling scrap steel, minimizing the carbon footprint, and retaining product quality. Utilizing the electric arc furnace technology like Steel Dynamics and/or reducing greenhouse gasses through innovation are large steps to making greener and cleaner steel and a healthier planet. RF
Courtney Glover is a freelance writer and photographer based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She contributes her talents to various publications.
