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Long-term global availability of steel scrap

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  • Oda, Junichiro
  • Akimoto, Keigo
  • Tomoda, Toshimasa

Abstract

Primary steelmaking involves CO2-intensive processes, but the expansion of secondary steel production is limited by the global availability of steel scrap. The present work examines global scrap consumption in the past (1870–2012) and future scrap availability (2013–2050) based on the historical trend. The results reveal that (i) historically, the consumption of old scrap has been insufficient compared with the amounts of discarded steel, and (ii) based on historical scrap consumption, the future availability of scrap will not be sufficient to satisfy the two assumed cases of steel demand. Primary steelmaking is expected to remain the dominant process, at least up until 2050. Under the reference-demand case of 2.19 billion tons in crude steel production by 2050, the total production of pig iron and direct reduced iron could reach 1.35 billion tons. Consumption of old scrap could reach 0.76 billion tons. Because the availability of scrap will be limited in the context of the global total, it is important to research and develop innovative low-carbon technologies for primary steelmaking and to explore their economic viability if we are to aim for achieving large reductions in CO2 emissions from the iron and steel industry.

Suggested Citation

  • Oda, Junichiro & Akimoto, Keigo & Tomoda, Toshimasa, 2013. "Long-term global availability of steel scrap," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 81-91.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:recore:v:81:y:2013:i:c:p:81-91
    DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2013.10.002
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Söderholm, Patrik & Tilton, John E., 2012. "Material efficiency: An economic perspective," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 75-82.
    2. Keigo Akimoto & Fuminori Sano & Ayami Hayashi & Takashi Homma & Junichiro Oda & Kenichi Wada & Miyuki Nagashima & Kohko Tokushige & Toshimasa Tomoda, 2012. "Consistent assessments of pathways toward sustainable development and climate stabilization," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 36(4), pages 231-244, November.
    3. Oda, Junichiro & Akimoto, Keigo & Sano, Fuminori & Tomoda, Toshimasa, 2007. "Diffusion of energy efficient technologies and CO2 emission reductions in iron and steel sector," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 29(4), pages 868-888, July.
    4. Allwood, Julian M. & Ashby, Michael F. & Gutowski, Timothy G. & Worrell, Ernst, 2011. "Material efficiency: A white paper," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 55(3), pages 362-381.
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    Cited by:

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    3. Davide Rovelli & Carlo Brondi & Michele Andreotti & Elisabetta Abbate & Maurizio Zanforlin & Andrea Ballarino, 2022. "A Modular Tool to Support Data Management for LCA in Industry: Methodology, Application and Potentialities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-31, March.
    4. Wang, Peng & Jiang, Zeyi & Geng, Xinyi & Hao, Shiyu & Zhang, Xinxin, 2014. "Quantification of Chinese steel cycle flow: Historical status and future options," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 87(C), pages 191-199.
    5. Pauliuk, Stefan & Kondo, Yasushi & Nakamura, Shinichiro & Nakajima, Kenichi, 2017. "Regional distribution and losses of end-of-life steel throughout multiple product life cycles—Insights from the global multiregional MaTrace model," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 116(C), pages 84-93.
    6. Serrenho, André Cabrera & Mourão, Zenaida Sobral & Norman, Jonathan & Cullen, Jonathan M. & Allwood, Julian M., 2016. "The influence of UK emissions reduction targets on the emissions of the global steel industry," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 174-184.
    7. Chen, Wu & Wang, Minxi & Li, Xin, 2016. "Analysis of copper flows in the United States: 1975–2012," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 67-76.
    8. Paul Wolfram & Qingshi Tu & Niko Heeren & Stefan Pauliuk & Edgar G. Hertwich, 2021. "Material efficiency and climate change mitigation of passenger vehicles," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 25(2), pages 494-510, April.

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