Sustainability

Sustainability

Increased use of galvanized steel leads to lower economic and environmental costs of maintenance.
Protecting steel is at the very heart of our galvanizing services. Ensuring that the key element of global infrastructure lasts as long as possible is the definition of sustainability. Eliminating the need to replace fabricated steel products, galvanizing saves energy and natural resources that would be required to create and transport new steel. 

Sustainable Future

Sustainable development has become a societal, regulatory and market trend. The environmental and social attributes of materials and products are increasingly affecting design and purchasing in building and construction. There is a marked shift toward high performance and environmentally responsible products.
Sustainable development implies a careful balance of social, economic, and environmental aspects as well as between present and future needs.
Today’s growth brings economic prosperity and welfare – but also a continuously growing demand for materials. Thus, a trade-off arises between societal benefits and the depletion of natural resources.

  • Steel is the most recycled product in the world
  • Zinc and steel are 100% recyclable
  • 30% of all zinc used comes from recycled materials

In order to make this growth sustainable the materials used need to be either renewable or recyclable. Hot Dip Galvanized building products can last for generations, and after their useful life they can be recovered and re-used over and over again. Therefore, renewability and recyclability are complementary – and not conflicting – contributions to a sustainable future. 

Why is galvanizing sustainable

Galvanizing is energy efficient throughout its production and whole life cycle.

The galvanizing process uses natural resources considerately to ensure a relatively low environmental burden.

Whether it’s re-galvanizing, removal or reuse, galvanized steel is easily recycled. What’s more, it can also be recycled with steel scrap.

Galvanizing protects against corrosion and prolongs the life of steel, greatly lowering the environmental and economic cost.

The initial investment of using galvanized steel for long-term protection in construction can provide cost benefits for decades.

Life cycle enviromental information

The life cycle of hot dip galvanized steel

In 2005, European General Galvanizers Association (EGGA) contracted Life Cycle Engineering (LCE), Torino, Italy to perform a pan-European life cycle inventory (LCI) study of hot dip galvanized products. The study considered an average result for typical general galvanized products.
Energy and environmental results are expressed by reference to the functional unit, but an extension of the analysis provides data about the system, independently of the steel product, in order to focus attention on ‘the service’.
This LCI data is available, on request from EGGA, to LCA professionals and customers who wish to generate an environmental product declaration for a galvanized steel construction product. 

Recycling and re-use are at the heart of the life cycle of galvanizing

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Over the past 50 years, Galco has become a recognized leader offering high quality equipment and systems. We are dedicated to exploring the latest construction technologies to generate cost savings for clients.

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