Advantages of steel as a building material from a sustainability perspective

Abstract

ABSTRACT It is perhaps not possible to say that a material is the most sustainable always and everywhere. It has to do with the application. It is vital with "the right material in the right place," and a hybrid will probably be the best solution, even in the future. Steel is a sustainable material, and in some cases, the most sustainable choice. This is partly based on the fact that steel is a circular material, which means that it can be reused and recycled repeatedly. Steel allows a long service life, since its properties usually are unchanged unless it is exposed to fire, corrosion or fatigue. It is hard to compete against steel if there are requirements for large open surfaces, slim constructions, high loads, or if explosion must be considered Just during the past two years, the environmental focus and knowledge has increased, and many companies are now working purposefully to reduce their impact on the environment. The awareness of the construction materials impact on the environment is also something that has increased recently. There are ongoing projects in the steel industry focusing on reuse and lowering the CO2-emissions from the production. Sustainability is a broad concept, and according to literature studies, sustainability in the construction industry is, among other things, about efficiency, flexibility and longevity. Something that is missing is a common practice/standard for calculating the environmental impact of materials in the construction industry. Depending on goal and scope, the LCA method is used differently, and few operators consider the entire lifecycle. Difficulties in collecting data and interpreting results mean that many persons do not use the method, at least not to its full extent. Interviews indicate that economy is of higher priority than the environment in the building industry today. Some companies stand out and invest heavily to reduce the environmental impact, but for all companies to invest in the environment, and reach climate neutrality 2045, requirements and incentives are needed. Conclusions are partly based on interviews that have been carried out to get an indication of today's situation. It is essential to point out that it is only an indication due to the number of interviews. The aim of the thesis was to find the advantages of steel as a building material from a sustainability perspective, which is limited to the environment and economy. The report is limited to the Swedish building industry and steel.