EMR’s Reusable Steels wins Recycled Product of the Year at the 2024 National Recycling Awards

EMR Reusable Steels – a company within EMR – is delivering high-performance reusable steel sections to some of the UK’s most exciting new development projects. Carefully removed from end-of-life buildings by a team of highly-trained experts, these sustainable materials are then reused in new projects, offering a 97.5% reduction in carbon, compared to virgin steel sections.

In fact, by eliminating the need for mining iron ore, long distance transportation and remelting, EMR Reusable Steels cuts the embedded carbon in its material from 1,850kgCO2e per tonne (the World Steel Association’s global average for steelmaking) to just 47kgCO2e per tonne.

The sustainability benefits of this pioneering material have been verified by third-party environmental assessment organisations, ensuring credibility and transparency. EMR Reusable Steels was granted a world-first EPD for an ultra-low carbon reusable steel in 2023.

The Recycled Product of the Year category recognises “a product that exemplifies the best of sustainability”, designed with “careful consideration of resources and incorporate recycled content”. The reusability, use of end-of-life material, focus on waste minimisation and pioneering closed loop processes developed by Reusable Steels neatly match the judges’ criteria, highlighting how this game-changing solution can help the construction industry achieve its own strict sustainability targets going forward.

Launched in 2023, this year has seen EMR’s Reusable Steels open a state-of-the-art new site – located in Coventry – an important milestone in the firm’s ambition to create a nationwide network of facilities by 2030.

Projects already utilising the company’s high-quality steel sections include the redevelopment of One Exchange Square near St Paul’s Cathedral, the vast Elephant & Castle redevelopment and the newly-refurbished 76 Southbank.

Rob Palmer, General Manager for EMR Reusable Steels, said: “We are beyond delighted that the judges at this year’s National Recycling Awards have chosen the groundbreaking steel sections produced by EMR Reusable Steels as their Recycled Product of the Year for 2024.

“Steel use represents the vast majority of embedded carbon associated with many new building projects, yet – as developers seek ways to decarbonise – it remains an essential building material because of its durability, strength and adaptability.

“Following years of investment, innovation and collaboration with our customers, EMR Reusable Steels provide an ultra-low carbon alternative to virgin steel sections. Achieving this sought-after award – in a category filled with so many other groundbreaking products – is clear recognition from the judges as to both the impact this material is already having and the potential it has to transform the construction industry in the decades to come.”