Steel: Sustainable, Recyclable

“Steel is the single most recyclable construction material on the planet.” This statement is the foundation for the icon you see before you. Steel is an alloy composed mainly of iron (98%) and carbon (0.2-2%), both of which come from the earth itself. The wireframe globe represents steel as global entity, and as one the world's most recyclable materials.

The age of steel is here and now, and steel's recyclable nature means this age will extend well into the future. It is one of the strongest, most readily available materials provided by the earth. This icon is representative of both steel and the recycling process. It is a clear symbol to identify recycled and recyclable steel products.

Rare-Earth Metal Recycling Needed to Power Green Technology

Recycling rates need to increase significantly to ensure the future supply of rare-earth and specialty metals, which are needed to power many green technology products, according to a United Nations Environment Program report. A UN committee has determined that the recycling rates for specialty metals are only about 1 percent, while the report estimates that recycling all metals is two to 10 times more energy-efficient than smelting metals from ores.