Pioneering green construction with zero-emission recycled steel
By phasing out conventional steel, Peab hopes to contribute to creating a more sustainable construction industry while also helping its customers meet their sustainability targets. Recently, the construction company signed a delivery agreement for the new zero-emission steel SSAB Zero™.
As one of the largest construction and civil engineering companies in the Nordic region, Peab has set itself ambitious targets when it comes to sustainability. It aims to be climate neutral no later than 2045 – with a target to reduce the carbon dioxide intensity for input goods by at least 50 percent by 2030.
“The climate cannot wait,” says Elisabet Stadler, Head of Environment at Peab. “We hold responsibility for our environmental impact along the entire value chain, throughout the entire life cycle. Peab’s ambition is to work sustainably in every aspect to reduce the business's environmental and climate impact. We have a great responsibility within the construction industry, and by using SSAB Zero™ we can contribute to reaching the goal of becoming a climate neutral industry by 2045. It is a milestone not only for Peab, but for the entire industry.”
Most of Peab’s carbon emissions derive from its uses of building materials, mainly concrete, asphalt and steel. Since SSAB Zero™ is made with recycled steel and produced using fossil-free energy, it offers a promising potential for reducing Peab’s carbon emissions.
”SSAB Zero™ brings us, as well as the entire construction industry, one step closer to climate neutrality by 2045.”
Elisabet Stadler, Head of Environment, Peab
“The volume of steel we purchase varies year to year, but it stands for approximately ten percent of our measured emissions,” says Elisabet Stadler. “We see that within certain steel segments we will be able to half our carbon emissions already within five years, and that reduction will be the result of using lower emission steel.”
Peab plans to start using SSAB Zero™ during early 2024 with around half of the initial 300 tonne delivery ordered being used for micro piles for foundations and the other half in construction work. This will not only help Peab one step closer to its climate targets, but also those of their customers.
“To illustrate – when evaluating the environmental footprint of a typical office building, it becomes evident that steel alone account for about 30 percent of the overall climate impact,” says Elisabet Stadler. “By offering alternatives to traditionally produced materials, such as SSAB Zero™, we help our customers meet their targets of reduced climate impact while still receiving the same quality of product.”
By continuing to replace traditional building materials with low emission alternatives, such as SSAB Zero™, Peab hopes to pave the way towards a more sustainable construction industry.
More customers on SSAB Zero™
Other customers are also using SSAB Zero™. Read more on why and how.
The next generation of recycled steel
We are taking the next step towards a more sustainable future.
What is SSAB Zero™ ?
SSAB Zero™ is steel made using recycled steel and fossil-free energy. It has virtually zero fossil emissions during steel production, without mass balancing or allocation of emission reductions or carbon emission offsetting.
How is SSAB Zero™ steel produced?
The first step in making SSAB Zero™ is to feed the electric arc furnace (EAF) with scrap. Heat is generated from an electric arc between electrodes. Oxygen is blown into the furnace, and lime and slag foamers are added to combine with the impurities and form slag. Molten steel is extracted and poured out via a tapping spout. Across the entire process, only fossil-free electricity and fuels will be used – resulting in SSAB Zero™ steel as the end-product.
When will SSAB Zero™ be available to the market?
SSAB launched SSAB Zero™ in March 2023. The order of product roll-out have been defined by the requests from our customers. It is SSAB’s ambition to have a large range of our steel grades available. Your sales contact will be able to advise more specifically about your business needs.
As a customer, what are the advantages and disadvantages of SSAB Zero™?
The primary advantage of SSAB Zero™ is that it is a steel that has created virtually zero carbon emissions from fossil fuels in SSAB’s own operations. It leaves fossil fuels in the ground; this means that you and your end-users become part of a low-emission value-chain. The only disadvantage of SSAB Zero steel is that start-up production costs are higher, making it more expensive to produce and so it has a higher price.
How can I find out more about SSAB Zero™?
If you cannot find the information you are looking for here, please contact us here. Or get in touch with your SSAB sales contact directly.
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