Ben Bowsher, boss of UK-based steel certification body, Cares, tells us how the traceability of steel is vital in ascertaining how sustainable it is
Environmental performance of structures, and the materials that go into them, is now as important as functional performance, primarily because the carbon footprint has implications for the lifecycle assessment of the structure in determining whether it is sustainable. Clients, designers, contractors, manufacturers and suppliers must therefore take this issue seriously, and there is an urgent need for accurate and dependable environmental data to enable these parties to make informed decisions.
Reinforcing steel comes to the market via a number of processes, each of which involves different environmental impacts. End users may be unaware of these impacts, thereby making the correct choice of steel difficult at the design phase, and calculation of carbon footprint impossible at the construction phase.
The challenge now presented to the reinforced concrete supply chain is to develop a methodology, which not only assures functional performance but also ensures that environmental data recorded by producers is accurate, and verifiable via a similar audit process throughout the supply chain.
Steel used in the Gulf comes from all over the world and it is vital that suppliers of these steels are independently verified, so that the use of material of unknown origin and hence unknown properties and performance, is avoided. Global purchasing and local use therefore requires effective management of the supply chain, if designers are to be assured that the specified product has been used.
Lifecycle thinking
Lifecycle thinking considers the environmental impacts at all stages of a product’s life.
Lifecycle analysis provides transparent, quantitative and verifiable data and should be critically reviewed in accordance with ISO standards. It should then be possible to make functionally equivalent comparisons.
The Lifecycle assessment of a product can vary significantly depending who prepares the data, what assumptions have been made, which method of calculation was used and where organisational boundaries are drawn.
Recycling needs to play a major role when assessing steel’s environmental impacts.
Sources of data
Environmental data can be provided at different levels and from different sources. Perhaps voluntary disclosures of firms’ performance data tend to slip up on the side of self interest, and adjustment is required before such data can be used with confidence. It is therefore vital that any emissions calculations and declarations be underpinned by a system of agreed calculation methodologies, consistent boundaries and independent verification.
Sustainability principles
With any product, including reinforcing steel, the following key principles should be adhered to:
• Development of products that improve the sustainability of the building,
• Effective management of all waste streams,
• Measurement, reporting and improvement of performance on sustainability issues,
• Minimisation of pollution and emissions,
• More efficient use of energy and reduction in carbon footprint,
• Promotion of the recyclability of reinforcing steel products,
• More efficient water use and minimisation of demand on mains water supplies,
Sustainable reinforcing steel criteria
It is considered that the key sustainable reinforcing indicators for steel production are climate change and energy use; sustainable production; water usage; waste management; biodiversity and people.
Ben Bowsher is executive director of UK Cares, the UK based certification body primarily concerned with compliance of reinforcing and prestressing steels. He represents Cares on key UK and international certification and accreditation committees, recognising that steel manufacture, supply and use is becoming truly global in nature.
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