Sustainable steel

Steel is the main material used in delivering renewable energy – solar, tidal and wind. All steel created as long as150 years can be recycled today and used in new products and applications. By sector, global steel recovery rates for recycling are estimated at 85% for construction, 85% for automotive, 90% for machinery and 50% for electrical and domestic appliances. This leads to a global weighted average of over 70%. The amount of energy required to produce a tonne of steel has been reduced by 50% in the last 30 years. Nowadays, 97% of steel by-products can be reused. Figures for water uptake and discharge are close to each other, with any small loss due to evaporation. Water recycled back into rivers and other sources is often cleaner than when extracted.

Steel: A cornerstone of the world's economy

The industry directly employs about more than two million people worldwide, with a further two million contractors and four million people in the supporting industries. Considering steel’s position as the key product supplier to industries such as automotive, construction, transport, power and machine goods, and using a multiplier of 25:1, the steel industry is at the source of employment for more than 50 million people. World crude steel production has increased from 851 megatonnes (Mt) in 2001 to 1,527 Mt in 2011. (It was 28.3 Mt in 1900). World average steel use per capita has steadily increased from 150 kg in 2001 to 215 kg in 2011. India, Brazil, South Korea and Turkey have all entered the top 10 steel producers list in the last 40 years.

Steel is everywhere in your life

Almost 200 billion cans of food are produced each year. Steel cans mean saving energy as refrigeration is not needed. Cans mean tamper-free and safe food, nutritional value and beneficial environmental impact from recycling. Steel used for double-hulled capesize vessels delivering raw materials, finished goods and energy must have the highest impact toughness (to withstand constant wave motion), corrosion resistance (from sea water) and weldability (for manufacturing reasons). Skyscrapers are made possible by steel. The housing and construction sector is the largest consumer of steel today, using around 50% of world steel production. Approximately 25% of an average computer is made of steel. Over 320 million PCs were sold in 2010. Steel looks after our health. Steel surfaces are hygienic and easy to clean. Surgical and safety equipment and commercial kitchens are all made with steel.

Safe, innovative and progressive steel

Steel is an innovative and progressive industry committed to the safety and health of its people. The industry is committed to the goal of an injury-free workplace. The lost-time injury frequency rate has decreased from 5.1 in 2004 to 2.6 in 2009. The number of worldsteel member organisations participating in the annual safety metrics survey has increased from 46 in 2005 to 87 in 2010. The steel industry globally spends more than €12 billion annually on improving theNIKE AIR HUARACHE