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New! EPD for XCarb® recycled and renewably produced Granite® and Estetic®
16 March 2023ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products has released its newest Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for low carbon footprint steel products: XCarb® recycled and renewably produced Granite® and Estetic® organic coated steels.
Product newsCheck out our updated home page
13 March 2023We have done a bit of early spring cleaning at Constructalia with a new layout on our home page.
Website newsGet to know ArcelorMittal Construction’s XCarb® recycled and renewably produced product offer
9 March 2023As the ArcelorMittal group advances towards the decarbonisation of its products and processes with carbon neutrality as the final target, ArcelorMittal Construction’s product offer now also contains low carbon emission steel products for construction. ArcelorMittal Construction’s sandwich panels and long span decking range are now available in XCarb® recycled and renewably produced steel, providing another sustainable solution for the construction industry.
Product newsReusing recycled sheet piles for dyke reinforcement in the Netherlands
2 March 2023For the reinforcement of the Gorinchem-Waardenburg (GoWa) dyke in the Netherlands, ArcelorMittal Projects and ArcelorMittal Sheet Piling provided 6 kms of steel sheet piles. These sheet piles not only protect the dyke against the risk of failure, but also help reduce the environmental impact of the project thanks to the reuse of used sheet piles, themselves made from recycled steel.
Project newsFacade, roofing, and support structures: ArcelorMittal presents the latest steel solutions for sustainable construction at BAU in Munich
21 February 2023At BAU, the world's leading trade fair for the construction sector, from 17 to 22 April in Munich, ArcelorMittal's business units will present a wide range of products on offer: from facade solutions and load-bearing structures to roof structures for photovoltaic systems.
Event news
New! EPD for XCarb® recycled and renewably produced Granite® and Estetic®
ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products has released its newest Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for low carbon footprint steel products: XCarb® recycled and renewably produced Granite® and Estetic® organic coated steels.
The lowest carbon footprint in the EU
This EPD, published by Institut Bauen und Umwelt e.V. and third party verified according to EN 15804+A2, places ArcelorMittal’s XCarb® recycled and renewably produced organic coated steel offer in the position of having the lowest carbon footprint in the EU with a reduction factor of 2.6 compared to standard prepainted steel.
For construction applications, such as roofing and cladding, XCarb® recycled and renewably produced organic coated steel enables a carbon footprint reduction of around 50% (module A1-A3) per m². In terms of carbon footprint per m², this demonstrates that steel is among the solutions with the lowest carbon footprint.
Best in class
With this new low carbon Granite® prepainted steel offer, ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products is combining:
- A best in class product range for durability with long-lasting guarantees for each type of environment
- A best in class product for reducing the carbon footprint
- A best in class product to meet aesthetic requirements thanks to a large selection of colours and textures
Download and discover this EPD – and more – in our EDP library.
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Constructalia
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ArcelorMittal
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EPD for XCarb® recycled and renewably produced organic coated steel coils Granite® and Estetic®
Check out our updated home page
We have done a bit of early spring cleaning at Constructalia with a new layout on our home page.
Direct navigation to sustainability topics
To make it easier to navigate to hot topics, we have added links to XCarb® information and to our library of Environmental Product Declarations from our home page.
Looking for our Product catalogue? We needed to make some space, but you can still get there in one click from the side menu or from the button at the bottom of the page.
About us
Constructalia - ArcelorMittal Europe for construction is one of the world's leading steel reference sites for architects, engineers, and contractors. With our content, features, and online services, we provide decisions makers in the construction industry with comprehensive information about structural and aesthetic steel solutions.
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Constructalia
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Constructalia
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Get to know ArcelorMittal Construction’s XCarb® recycled and renewably produced product offer
As the ArcelorMittal group advances towards the decarbonisation of its products and processes with carbon neutrality as the final target, ArcelorMittal Construction’s product offer now also contains low carbon emission steel products for construction. ArcelorMittal Construction’s sandwich panels and long span decking range are now available in XCarb® recycled and renewably produced steel, providing another sustainable solution for the construction industry.
XCarb® recycled and renewably produced
ArcelorMittal’s XCarb® recycled and renewably produced steels are manufactured via the EAF route from a minimum of 75% scrap using 100% renewable energy, reducing CO2 emissions by around 70% compared to conventional steelmaking.
The availability of low carbon emission steel products is key for the construction industry to be able move towards more sustainable practices. With its XCarb® recycled and renewably produced steel offer, ArcelorMittal is currently the only steel manufacturer that supplies the construction industry with a comparable volume of decarbonised steel.
Available now: XCarb® recycled and renewably produced sandwich panels and long span decking
ArcelorMittal Construction, producer of innovative construction solutions for roofing, cladding, flooring, and light steel structures, is using XCarb® recycled and renewably produced steel for their sandwich panels and long span decking.
ArcelorMittal Construction customers can now purchase PIR (polyisocyanurate) sandwich panels of 80mm with an estimated 45% lower carbon footprint and long span decking profiles with a carbon footprint reduced by up to 60%.
EPDs for XCarb® recycled and renewably produced Ondatherm® sandwich panels and Hacierco® long span decking are expected to be published soon.
Jean Christophe Kennel, CEO of ArcelorMittal Construction said: “As the world leader in green steel production, ArcelorMittal is totally committed to reducing CO2 emissions. Our XCarb® RRP products mark a meaningful step towards decarbonisation within the construction industry and beyond.”
Laura Descos, Sustainability Manager at ArcelorMittal Construction, added: “We’re proud to offer products that help our customers meet their decarbonisation targets. Reduced carbon steel products can substantially shrink the carbon footprint of building projects and take us closer to meeting the objectives of the Paris Agreement.”
XCarb® Towards carbon neutral steel
Once produced, steel can be recycled infinitely without loss of quality, and it offers durable solutions making it a sustainable construction material. Steelmaking, however, is responsible for 7% of carbon emissions worldwide, which is why ArcelorMittal has created XCarb™, its global programme of steelmaking innovation to achieve carbon-neutral steel by 2050. XCarb™ brings together all of ArcelorMittal’s reduced, low, and zero-carbon products and steelmaking activities, as well as wider initiatives and green innovation projects, into a single effort focussed on achieving demonstrable progress towards carbon neutral steel.
About ArcelorMittal Construction
ArcelorMittal Construction, as part of the ArcelorMittal Group, is the leading global provider of steel building systems and solutions, sandwich panels for roofing, cladding, composite floors, light gauge structures, and modular housing. Supported by vast technical expertise, ArcelorMittal Construction develops construction systems that provide exceptional thermal and energy savings, as well as acoustic, airtightness, and fire performances. The group is leading the market through its innovative steel solutions. To learn more, please contact your local sales representative today.
Text:
ArcelorMittal Construction
Constructalia
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© ArcelorMittal Construction
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Reusing recycled sheet piles for dyke reinforcement in the Netherlands
For the reinforcement of the Gorinchem-Waardenburg (GoWa) dyke in the Netherlands, ArcelorMittal Projects and ArcelorMittal Sheet Piling provided 6 kms of steel sheet piles. These sheet piles not only protect the dyke against the risk of failure, but also help reduce the environmental impact of the project thanks to the reuse of used sheet piles, themselves made from recycled steel.
A country vulnerable to flooding
Water control in the Netherlands has always been important for the country's survival: about two-thirds of the Netherlands is vulnerable to flooding and sea surges, while one-third of the country's surface is below sea level. A network of more than 17 500 kms of dykes protects the 6000 kms of canals that run through the country.
Following the dramatic floods of 1953 in the Netherlands, the 'Delta' plan was launched to improve safety. It is estimated that the risk of flooding has been reduced to less than once every 4000 years in Zeeland and even once every 10 000 years in the Rotterdam area. Dyke reinforcement continues across the country, especially on the 1850 kms of dykes that do not yet meet the safety standards required by 2050.
Reinforcing the Gorinchem-Waardenburg dyke with ArcelorMittal's sheet piles
For the reinforcement of the Gorinchem-Waardenburg (GoWa) dyke, ArcelorMittal Projects and ArcelorMittal Sheet Piling provided steel sheet piles to customer Graaf Reinald Alliantie for more than 6 kms of the 23-km-long dyke. Sheet piles were the ideal solution to support and reinforce the structure against failure, especially where the surrounding space is limited and does not allow for the extension of its footprint on the ground.
Moreover, due to the scope of the project and the recent inclusion of environmental criteria in Dutch tendering procedures, the environmental impact of the selected solutions needed to be reduced as much as possible.
The project owner and ArcelorMittal worked together to reduce the carbon footprint of the project by applying the three important principles of the circular economy: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Reduce: Innovation in steel and rolling technology, as well as in installation equipment, has made it possible to reduce the quantity of steel needed to make the same retaining wall by more than 50% over the last few decades.
On the GoWa project, the sheet piles were supplied in high quality S430 GP steel to achieve the required strength with a lighter sheet pile profile and reduce the environmental impact.
ArcelorMittal's sheet piles, produced in the Belval mill in Luxembourg, use low-emission modes of transport such as railways and waterways. The steel is produced by the electric arc furnace (EAF) process, which produces less residue than primary blast furnace production - with up to five times less CO2 emissions.
The company’s new EcoSheetPile™ Plus brand of steel sheet piling, part of its XCarb® recycled and renewably produced initiative, takes a further step by using only electricity from renewable solar or wind sources. This achieves a 30% lower carbon footprint than with the usual energy mix.
Reuse: Although the reuse of used steel sheet piles is an excellent solution for temporary applications, they are more rarely used in permanent structures such as dyke reinforcement.
For the GoWa dyke project, the client deliberately selected used sheet piles. In locations where there was a risk of hydraulic failure, a used sheet pile wall can fulfil this function as well as a new sheet pile wall. The main difference is that the total greenhouse gas emissions from the production phase of the steel sheet piles do not have to be included in the environmental balance of the project as they have already been partially included in the previous temporary applications.
Recycle: Unlike other materials used in retaining walls and deep foundations, steel sheet piles can be extracted from the ground at the end of the structure's life and be 100% recycled to produce new steel products of the same or even higher quality.
The reinforcement of the GoWa dyke has a theoretical life span of 100 years. Since the corrosion of sheet piles embedded in the dyke body is minimal, the sheet piles can be extracted and 100% recycled at the end of life of the dyke.
The Gorinchem-Waardenburg dyke reinforcement project is another great example of how ArcelorMittal sheet piles efficiently protect vulnerable locations from the risks of flooding. Our teams continue to develop innovative solutions, responding to the needs of all civil engineering actors (project owners, engineering firms, construction contractors), optimising costs, total steel weight, resource consumption, and environmental impact.
Text:
ArcelorMittal Europe Communications
Constructalia
Images:
ArcelorMittal
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Facade, roofing, and support structures: ArcelorMittal presents the latest steel solutions for sustainable construction at BAU in Munich
At BAU, the world's leading trade fair for the construction sector, from 17 to 22 April in Munich, ArcelorMittal's business units will present a wide range of products on offer: from facade solutions and load-bearing structures to roof structures for photovoltaic systems.
Robust, sustainable, and as eye-catching as possible
Steel as a material is playing an increasingly important role in resource-efficient construction. Steel is versatile, fully recyclable, and – thanks to innovative technologies – can be manufactured with a smaller carbon footprint. The use of steel products with reduced CO₂ emissions represents further progress towards a climate-neutral construction industry.
"This year, our focus is on the topic of sustainable construction with steel, highlighting the role that low carbon emissions steel can play in reducing the carbon footprint of the construction sector. Manufacturing methods are changing, which means the use of renewable energies and scrap are increasing. As a durable, infinitely recyclable, but also very versatile material, steel is suitable for any use in the construction industry. And it is an important material in the energy transition, with low-carbon emissions steel needed for wind power or photovoltaics. Visitors to BAU will be able to see this for themselves," says Tapas Rajderkar, Chief Marketing Officer of ArcelorMittal Europe – Long Products.
Carbon emissions reduction thanks to XCarb® steels
Sustainability, circular economy, and ArcelorMittal's XCarb® range are in focus this year. This brings together all the group's manufacturing processes, products, initiatives, and innovation projects aimed at reducing CO2 emissions. XCarb® recycled and renewably produced steel is made in an Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) using 100% renewable electricity and up to 100% scrap, significantly reducing the carbon footprint of steel buildings. Emissions can be as low as 300 kilograms CO₂ per tonne compared with over two tonnes for steel produced conventionally. In the construction of an industrial hall, for example, steel that is recycled and produced with renewable electricity can save as many tonnes of CO₂ as the total steel tonnage required for the building envelope and supporting structure, without changing the construction method or the established building process.
Sustainability goes hand in hand with quality at the world's leading steel and mining group. In addition to the aesthetic aspect, the performance and recyclability of the materials and the construction elements used have an impact on the life cycle assessment of a building. The use of high strength steels contributes to a reduction in the carbon footprint. For example, for the same load-bearing capacity, the carbon footprint of a beam can be reduced by 15 to 20%. When using a composite deck instead of a conventional precast concrete one, the reduction is up to 30%.
A wide range of applications in construction
With the Granite® product family, ArcelorMittal offers a range of organic coated steels for building envelopes with more than 120 colours and textures, guaranteed for up to 40 years. For facade substructures, solar mounting structures, but also cable trays, composite floors, and many more applications, Magnelis® metallic coated steel resists corrosion three times better than regular galvanised steel. Both products are available as XCarb® recycled and renewably produced.
Special roof panels for photovoltaic systems
A few years ago, a solar/photovoltaic system was still a "nice to have", but today it is a standard feature and has even become mandatory for new commercial buildings. ArcelorMittal specialises in the installation of photovoltaic modules on roofs and will be showing its portfolio at BAU. Whether renovating existing buildings or constructing new ones, Ondatherm Solar® roof panels offer simple and quick installation for photovoltaic systems, are robust, and provides a high level of thermal protection. Various flexible solutions are available to customers and builders for mounting the modules.
Sustainable supporting structures
ArcelorMittal will also present its solutions for load-bearing structures at BAU. Cofraplus® 80 composite floor profiles are approved by building authorities as prefabricated steel floors and have a significantly lower carbon footprint compared to prefabricated concrete slabs. For structural applications, high strength HISTAR® steels provide cost and material savings. The weather-resistant Arcorox® steel grades with natural corrosion protection have a long service life and are already being used successfully in bridge construction projects.
Text:
ArcelorMittal Germany
Constructalia
Images:
© Tom Clausen, shutterstock.com, and Philippe Vandenameele
© ArcelorMittal
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XCarb® for Heavy plates: bigger, greener, better
Plants at Avilés and Gijón now supply higher quality heavy steel plate with a reduced CO2 footprint, allowing customers to buy XCarb® green steel certificates to reduce their Scope 3 emissions.
Responding to the needs of modern wind towers
Following an upgrade in 2020, the No.2 continuous slab caster at Avilés has been running at full capacity, supplying plates for several major offshore wind projects in the UK, France, and the Netherlands. Since September 2021, the caster has produced slabs of up to 2200 mm width, 365 mm thickness, and weighing up to nearly 19 tonnes, broadening ArcelorMittal’s range of plates as a response to the needs of offshore wind tower mast manufacturers.
The 2020 upgrade included the implementation of state-of-the-art technologies such as Dynamic Soft Reduction (DSR) along with new systems to deliver better internal and external steel quality, including less segregation, better homogeneity, and cleaner surface finish.
A commitment to CO2 reduction
As part of its commitment to reduce its CO2 emissions by 35% in 2030 and achieve net-zero in 2050, ArcelorMittal Europe began coke-oven gas injection for Blast Furnace B in Gijón in early 2021. This initiative is reducing CO2 emissions by 125 000 tonnes a year - equivalent to the emissions generated by the annual consumption of 84 000 Spanish households.
Altogether, these investments deliver on European customers’ requirements for greener, high-quality, and heavier plates for civil engineering, wind towers, and offshore structures.
XCarb® green steel certificates
In addition, ArcelorMittal’s heavy plates qualify for XCarb® green steel certificates, which allow customers to report an equivalent reduction in their Scope 3 emissions in accordance with the GHG Protocol for Corporate Accounting & Reporting.
Denis Parein, Commercial Head for Heavy plates at ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products, commented: “These investments mean that we can supply heavy plates in the sizes and grades required for the most demanding projects, and with a reduced CO2 footprint”.
Text:
ArcelorMittal Europe Communications
Constructalia
Images:
© Eugene Suslo / shutterstock.com
© ArcelorMittal