More and more in recent years, individuals and entities alike are looking for ways to be more sustainable and eco-friendly across numerous industries. Construction is a common example, with contractors and their clients always on the lookout for sustainable materials – and steel is a top candidate here.

At Wasatch Steel, we’re here to offer numerous steel building products to clients in Salt Lake City and other parts of Utah, from steel tube and steel bar to steel sheet and many other options. What exactly makes steel a sustainable product, and why should you likely be considering it if this is an important subject for you or your business? Here are some basics.

Endless Life Cycle

Simply put, the long-lasting nature of steel is a major factor in its sustainability. Because it can be recovered and re-used after each significant use without any loss of performance, it has an indefinite life cycle with virtually no end. This is in stark contrast to many other materials, which need to be replaced after a certain amount of time and are not easily recyclable.

For instance, an aluminum-framed building might last 15 years, while a steel-framed building could easily be standing for past 100 years or more. In this way, you can think of steel as being much more heavy-duty and long lasting than other options.

Eco-Friendly Production Processes

Steel production – especially in recent times – is also an extremely eco-friendly process. Today, a number of methods are used to reduce energy used in steel production by up to 60%, and it also produces significantly less emissions than other materials. This makes it one of the most sustainable building materials available today.

Again, this stands in contrast to many other materials, which might require a lot of energy and resources to produce, or might release harmful particles or emissions into the environment in the production process.

Even Its Waste is Reusable

With many other building products, the waste produced is often non-recyclable and has to be disposed of in landfills, where it may take centuries for it to decompose. But with steel, even the scraps and other wasted bits can easily be recycled into new products without any loss of quality or performance – making its environmental impact nearly zero if you consider all aspects of its life cycle.

For this reason, steel is quickly becoming more popular as an eco-friendly choice on construction sites, and Wasatch Steel is here to provide all the necessary products for a sustainable and energy efficient build. Contact us today to learn more about our sustainable solutions!

Steel Scrap is High-Value

We talked about steel’s recyclability above, but that isn’t even the entire scope of this area. Many other highly recyclable products don’t actually end up getting recycled as often as we’d like – this is often due to low values for scrap materials, or other difficulties in the recycling process. Steel is different, though – it’s a highly valuable material that can be recycled with relative ease.

This means that any steel product you purchase has a high likelihood of being used again at some point in the future – either by you or someone else. This helps ensure that our planet won’t suffer from an excessive amount of steel waste, making it a great choice for those who want to do their part in protecting the environment.

Non-Toxic – Both to People and Habitats

Furthermore, the production of steel does not require any particularly hazardous materials. This makes it a much safer solution than some other materials which may be toxic or even carcinogenic – both for people working with the material and for nearby habitats and ecosystems. This is yet another factor that makes steel one of the most sustainable building products available today.

You Don’t Need Very Much

Finally, due to its high levels of strength and durability, steel can be used in much thinner forms than many other materials – meaning that you don’t need to use as much of it for a given application. This makes steel one of the most efficient building materials available, and allows you to use less of it while still getting great results.

Overall, there are tons of reasons why steel is one of the most sustainable and eco-friendly building materials available today. From its long life span to the ease of its recyclability, there’s no doubt that it is a great choice for those who want to reduce their environmental impact.

Contact Wasatch Steel today to learn more about our selection of steel products for clients around SLC and other parts of Utah!