Recycling

Stainless steel is a champion of recycling. It is one of the key contributors stainless steel makes to sustainability.

Champion of recycling

60% of all new stainless steel comes from recycled material. Because stainless steel has such a long life and demand is increasing, there is not enough stainless steel scrap available for this building to be made of 100% recycled stainless steel.

The global life cycle of stainless steels

This leaflet summarizes the results of a study which quantifies the stocks and flows cycle of stainless steels. Conducted by Barbara Reck, Senior Research Scientist at Yale University, the study ‘Comprehensive Multilevel Cycle of Stainless Steel in 2015’ concluded that on average, 85% of stainless steels are recycled once they reach their end of life, either to become new stainless steels (56%) or a valuable iron source for carbon steels (29%).

The summary is available in English and Chinese [clicking on the language will open the file].

Recycled for lasting value

In under four minutes, this video shows stainless steel as a champion of recycling, with around 90% of end-of-life stainless steel being collected and recycled into new stainless steel – without loss of quality. Durability and recyclability are two of the key contributions which stainless steel makes to sustainability.

This video is available in 18 languages. Clicking on the language will open the video: English, Chinese, Czech, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish (Castilian and Mexican), Swedish, Thai and Turkish

Recycling ferritic stainless steel

The purpose of this brochure is to help develop and grow the systematic separation of ferritic stainless steel scrap in the metals recycling chain, both in the factory and at the end-of-life of products.

Download this brochure
Raising awareness of stainless steel recycling

The International Stainless Steel Forum created an advertising campaign jointly with the Nickel Institute. The campaign is designed to inform the public that stainless steel is one of the world’s most recycled materials and that it is recycled more than paper or glass.

Download these posters
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