Abstract
Environmental considerations of steel manufacturing involve addressing the various aspects of steel production and utilization, namely sustainability based on life cycle assessments (LCAs). The Swedish steel makers took the pioneering national initiative towards a more holistic view on steel production and use. The initiative was funded by the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Environmental Research and co-funded by Swedish steel industries. The programme, named the ‘Steel Eco-cycle’, had the vision closing the loop in the manufacture and use of steel in society. The programme had a multi-disciplinary approach, built around a network of projects with researchers from universities and institutes, environmental specialists and industry sectors participating. The programme envisaged a total optimization of the steel eco-cycle from development of newer steel grades to utilization of steel scrap, thereby retaining the metal values in alloy steels, minimizing losses and recovering valuable metals from slag and dust. Another important objective of the programme was to upscale the process ideas, make industrial tests and eventually implement them in industry. A number of processes developed under this programme are currently being commercialized. The paper will present the steel eco-cycle programme concept and development for a number of innovations.
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