Have you ever wondered what the lifecycle of stainless steel is? The answer is quite simple. Since 1900, it is estimated that over 22,000 billion tons of stainless steel have been recycled worldwide, and this number may increase significantly.
In other words, the lifecycle of stainless steel and its recycling go hand in hand. It is important to remember that sustainable management requires reducing mining exploitation and increasing recycling activity during secondary production.
From this, a whole new industry has emerged with a great interest in the recycling and lifecycle of materials such as stainless steel. As we already know, stainless steels are used in different industries and have different uses.
Global production of steel and its consumption
Did you know that currently the production of stainless steel has increased by 0.4% this year? And what is even more surprising, more than half of the total tons produced globally are manufactured in China.
Among the most common uses during the lifecycle of stainless steel and its recycling, are: metal articles, construction and infrastructure, transport manufacturing, household appliances and industrial machinery.
Currently these numbers have done nothing but increase, but in general terms, stainless steel is a valuable source of raw material and has always been potentially recyclable.
The lifecycle of stainless steel and recycling
All types of stainless steel have great durability and long lifespan. In fact, it can take many years for them to become available for recycling. In itself, the average useful life of stainless steel is 20 years, but there may be cases of up to 100 years and more.
An example is the iconic Chrysler Building which was inaugurated in 1930. This was one of the first high-rise buildings in the world where metal was used on its exterior, its 60-meter dome is clad in stainless steel and in 2023 it will celebrate 100 years of service.
In itself, stainless steel has a very wide lifecycle and from its production to transformation and uses, stainless steel enters and exits the system, always to give it more and more uses or in any case, subject it to recycling or waste management.
Which countries recycle the most stainless steel?
The recycled content of stainless steels is the amount of metal scrap used in the production of new stainless steels. In any case, 32% of the new stainless is composed of recycled stainless steel scrap.
On the other hand, 12% of carbon steel scrap is also recycled. The new stainless has 44% scrap, 32% stainless and 12% carbon. Therefore, in many regions of the world, the material recycled into new stainless steels was more than 44%.
On the one hand, Europe produces 70% of recycled stainless steel. On the other hand, China 23%, the United States 71%, Asia 66% (excluding China) and others 44% (includes Russia, Ukraine, South Africa and Brazil).
Don't forget that at Ulbrinox we are experts in stainless steel and aluminum. If you are looking for the best industry supplier, contact us. Remember that in our blog you can find important information about metals.
