Product-related environment issues
The The steel industry is working continuously to satisfy the needs of customers in the form of more environmentally advanced steels.
Examples in this context include high-strength structural steels whereby trailer manufacturers are able to reduce the tare [unloaded] weight of the trailer while retaining load capacity. The reduction in weight implies a total increase in the load capacity, fewer transport journeys and a lighter trailer delivering lower fuel consumption in the case of empty and half-load transport operations.
There are many examples where trailer and attachment manufacturers use SSAB’s high-strength steel and therewith facilitate a cut in the vehicle curb weight of up to 3 tonnes. This saving is then used to increase the payload capacity while ensuring a lighter and more durable vehicle requiring less raw material input in manufacture, a significantly longer working life and a cut in the number of transport journeys.
National and international regulations
Besides the demands for more effective products, the steel industry must also take account of standards that are primarily shaped by European product legislation, which in its turn includes demands on e.g. trace mineral content in different steel grades.
The steel industry monitors developments in regulations that affect products both within Sweden and internationally. Pressing issues are taken up in co-operation with Eurofer, the World Steel Association or other industrial sectors.
Environmental marking
The steel sector monitors trends and the standardisation of environmental marking for products.
Our standpoints
- Product regulations shall be based on risk assessments and not exclude products that contain certain hazardous substances solely based on their inherent properties.
- Regulations for environmental marking and public procurement must not be to the disadvantage of other legislation.
Legislation that concerns steel products
REACH, Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation of Chemicals (Regulation 1907/2006) regulates all substances that are produced or imported to the EU in quantities exceeding one tonne per year. Companies are responsible for registering these substances i.e. analyse (risk assess) and report any risk and indicate which safety measures are required. The REACH work on behalf of companies is co-ordinated with other trade organisations and associations for the registration of different forms of iron (Fe2O3, sintered iron ore, iron ore pellets, pig iron and metallic iron).
WEEE, Waste Electric and Electronic Equipment (Directive 2002/96/EC) covers waste that consists of, or contains, electrical or electronic products and the purpose of which is that the waste is reused or recycled as far as possible. The directive is being reworked for enhanced clarity.
RoHS, Restriction of use of Hazardous Substances (Directive 2002/95/EC) regulates the use of certain metals such as mercury, cadmium, lead, and hexavalent chromium in new electrical and electronic products. Exemptions for these metals are made for certain product groups. The exemptions are reviewed every fourth year by the EU Commission and the member states. The steel industry participates in this process.
ELV, End of Life Vehicle (Directive 2000/53/EC) regulates the overall handling of worn out vehicles. This means e.g. a prohibition on the sale of private cars containing lead, mercury, cadmium and hexavalent chromium. A number of exemptions from the prohibition apply e.g. for lead in batteries and lead in soldered joints for electronics, lead alloy steel as well as hexavalent chromium in anti-corrosion coatings.
Ecolabel (Regulation 2008/0152) is a European set of regulations for ecological marking of different product groups. In the course of the latest revision certain products have been excluded that contain especially hazardous substances of CMR type (Carcinogenic, Mutagenic, Reprotoxic) and PvB classified substances (very Persistent and very Bioaccumulative).
The prohibition is based solely on content and disregards the REACH regulation and other sets of regulations. This may have serious consequences for the steel industry since certain stainless steel grades and other alloy steels could be excluded from the ecological marking scheme.
Green Public Procurement criteria are in process of being reviewed by the EU Commission. Certain of these criteria are based solely on inherent properties and, as a result, certain steel grades that have been approved under the REACH regulation may be excluded from public procurement.
