The Environmental Impact of Steel Sheet Pile Structures

Case Study by João MARTINS (ArcelorMittal Commercial RPS Sàrl - Luxembourg)

Steel is one of the most commonly used materials in construction, and it significantly contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. However, when different solutions are compared in more detail, it becomes clear that steel is actually a relatively eco-friendly material, as some steel elements can be reused multiple times before being recycled at nearly 100%. 

Furthermore, the European goal of carbon neutrality by 2050 is a strong incentive for producers to invest in clean technologies. This comes at a cost and will take time. Steelmakers are already developing very ambitious plans, but the goal can only be achieved with the support of public authorities, who must promote the most eco-friendly solutions, not necessarily the cheapest ones. Some European countries are already applying environmental criteria in many public tenders. 

 

Please note that this document is available only in French.

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It should be noted that in the short term, a detailed Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), even when limited to the main parameters with a significant influence, is a transparent and fair method for comparing the environmental impact of different structures. It is also preferable to use data from the actual product that will be implemented, for example, with the help of Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) from producers, rather than generic data or collective EPDs. This approach will encourage the industry to develop innovative products and solutions that consume significantly fewer natural resources. This continuous process is already underway: in two decades, ArcelorMittal has improved the efficiency of its steel sheet piles by about 20%. 

This article discusses a case study conducted by the Belgian engineering firm Tractebel on behalf of ArcelorMittal. The goal is to compare the total life cycle cost and the summary carbon footprint of three alternative solutions for the construction of a quay wall intended to accommodate cruise ships in a Belgian port. 

The LCA demonstrated that in this specific case study, the carbon footprint of the steel sheet pile solution is 45% lower than that of the alternatives studied. Nevertheless, this conclusion cannot be extrapolated to other structures or countries without applying local weighting factors.