Steel is a cornerstone of modern construction, from stadiums and commercial buildings to data centers, yet its environmental footprint varies dramatically depending on production methods.
Traditional Basic Oxygen Furnace (BOF) steel carries an embodied carbon of approximately 2.45 tCO₂e per tone, while Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) production can reduce this figure to between 0.56 and 0.33 tCO₂e. For construction firms and clients aiming to meet net-zero targets, the path to decarbonization increasingly points to steel reuse rather than just recycling.
While conventional recycling melts steel back to liquid form, reclaiming steel preserves its current structure, saving up to 96% of embodied carbon compared with new BOF steel. UK-based structural engineering firm Severfield has pioneered a dedicated strategy to integrate reclaimed steel into new projects, emphasizing both environmental performance and circular economy principles.
The process involves recovering steel previously used for temporary stability during construction, transporting it to Severfield facilities, cleaning it, and re-fabricating it for reuse in primary and secondary steelwork. By avoiding the energy-intensive melting stage, this approach drastically reduces the carbon footprint of structural steel components.
Environmental performance is verified through third-party Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), providing transparency for clients and stakeholders. Even after cleaning and re-fabrication, Severfield’s reclaimed steel carries an embodied carbon of just 0.094 tCO₂e per tone, a substantial reduction compared to both BOF and EAF steel.
The adoption of reclaimed steel allows construction firms to reduce emissions, conserve resources, and reinforce circular economy practices without compromising on quality or structural integrity.
