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    LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT IN THE STEEL INDUSTRY Suarez

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    LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT IN THE STEEL INDUSTRY Suarez

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    Melissa Suarez Yar
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    LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT IN THE STEEL INDUSTRY Suarez

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    Melissa Suarez Yar

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    LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT IN THE STEEL INDUSTRY

    Melissa Suárez

    Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador

    Ciencia de los materiales

    May 16, 2024


    Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)

    Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a methodological


    framework used to evaluate the environmental
    impacts associated with all stages of a product's life,
    from raw material extraction through production,
    use and waste disposal. This holistic approach is
    crucial for the steel industry to accurately measure
    its environmental footprint and identify areas for
    improvement. The World Steel Association
    (worldsteel) has pioneered the implementation of
    LCA to support sustainable practices and regulatory
    compliance.

    Importance of LCA

    LCA is essential for understanding the complete environmental impact of a product,


    considering all phases of its life cycle. By considering impacts from resource extraction,
    material processing, manufacturing, distribution, use and end-of-life elimination, LCA
    provides a global view of the environmental consequences. This helps to prevent the
    omission of negative impacts that could arise if only one stage, such as production, or one
    impact, such as Global Warming Potential (GWP), is considered

    Implementation in the Steel Industry

    The steel industry uses LCA to improve


    sustainability and operational efficiency. Steel
    is inherently recyclable, with the ability to be
    reused without significant degradation of its
    properties. This aligns well with the principles
    of the circular economy, where the focus is on
    minimizing waste and maximizing resource
    efficiency. Worldsteel's ISO-compliant LCA
    methodology ensures a standardized approach
    to measuring the environmental performance of steel products worldwide, allowing a
    transparent benchmarking.
    Circular Economy and LCA

    Incorporating LCA in the context of a circular economy improves the ability to maximize
    the value from raw materials while minimizing waste. Practices such as reducing material
    use, promoting reuse and improving recycling processes are evaluated through LCA to
    validate their environmental benefits. The steel industry, through detailed life cycle
    inventory (LCI) data, demonstrates the environmental benefits of recycling and reusing
    steel, supporting a sustainable model of production

    The World Steel Association

    The World Steel Association


    (worldsteel) is an international
    organization representing more
    than 160 steel producers, national
    and regional steel industry
    associations and steel research
    institutes. Founded in 1967, its
    mission is to promote the development of the steel industry through innovation and
    sustainability. Worldsteel has been at the vanguard of promoting Life Cycle Assessment
    (LCA) the steel industry. Since the mid-1990s, worldsteel has collected extensive Life
    Cycle Inventory (LCI) data from its member companies around the world. This data is
    collected annually and covers various environmental aspects such as energy consumption,
    greenhouse gas emissions, water use and waste generation.

    LCI data provided by worldsteel supports informed decision about environmental


    performance. This data allows member companies to consider and compare their
    production processes in terms of sustainability, identify areas for improvement and
    develop strategies to reduce their environmental impact. The worldsteel LCA Expert
    Group plays a crucial role in the continuous improvement of LCA methodologies that are
    in line with international standards. This group is composed of experts from member
    companies and external consultants who collaborate to refine LCA techniques and
    maintain their relevance and precision. Their work includes updating methodologies
    according to the latest scientific and regulatory developments, providing that LCA results
    are credible and transparent.
    Raw Material Extraction and Processing

    The extraction and processing of raw materials for steel production, such as iron ore, coal,
    and limestone, are energy-intensive activities that contribute significantly to
    environmental impacts. These processes involve mining, transporting, and refining raw
    materials, each with associated emissions and resource consumption. LCA studies in the
    steel industry reveal that raw material extraction is one of the major contributors to
    environmental impacts such as global warming, and resource ending. Implementing more
    efficient extraction technologies and optimizing material use are critical strategies for
    mitigating these impacts.

    Steel Manufacturing

    Steel manufacturing involves several processes, primarily using the BOF and EAF routes.
    The BOF process, which uses iron ore and coal, is highly energy-intensive and generates
    substantial greenhouse gas emissions. In contrast, the EAF process uses recycled scrap
    steel and generally has a lower environmental footprint. However, the overall impact of
    the EAF process depends on the energy source used for electricity. The recyclability of
    steel is one of its most significant environmental advantages. Recycled steel (scrap) is
    melted and reformed, which reduces the need for raw material and lowers energy
    consumption and emissions. LCI data collected by worldsteel shows that the recycling
    process has a lower environmental impact than primary steel production. In addition, the
    industry is continuously working to improve recycling rates and the efficiency of
    recycling processes.
    References:

    Worldsteel. (2024, 16 abril). Life cycle thinking - worldsteel.org. worldsteel.org.

    https://worldsteel.org/steel-topics/life-cycle-thinking/

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