News
Funding received for steel reuse project
Government funding has been awarded to the DISRUPT project (Delivering Innovative Steel ReUse ProjecT), which seeks to explore the reuse of structural steelwork in construction, while encouraging the adoption of new business models that can help tackle the climate emergency.
DISRUPT, which is being led by the Alliance for Sustainable Building Products (ASBP), has received funding via Innovate UK’s circular economy for SMEs competition.
The DISRUPT team is made up of steel reuse experts and stockholders Cleveland Steel and Tubes (CST), construction company ISG and the National Federation of Demolition Contractors and is supported by developer Grosvenor Group.
CST are one of the largest stockholders of repurposed steel tubes in Europe and have partnered ASBP on a number of circular research projects over the last 10 years, in addition to supporting the ASBP’s Reusable Products and Buildings Network.
Steel is one of the most widely used and resource intensive materials used in construction. Although commonly recycled at end of life, the reuse of steel is currently low despite the apparent environmental, carbon and circular economy benefits. The high value of steel at end of life can be realised by being reused in a wide range of construction applications.
Peter Kelly, ISG’s Group Director of Sustainable Operations said: “There is increasing awareness in the benefits of steel reuse, driven by client’s wanting to lessen their project’s embodied carbon.
“ISG has recently utilised reused steel – sourced and tested by CST – for a PV canopy on a project in Cambridge.”