Re-Use of Steel Sections (RUSS)

AI Quick Summary

The aim of the project is to eliminate the CO2 emissions caused by the re-melting and hot rolling of steel sections which could be re-used.Currently the Swiss consumption (Import-Export) is around 130.000 t / year.The CO2 saving per ton re-used steel sections were estimated to be around 900 kg CO2/ t steel (Carbotech Report August 2021).Therefore, the saving potential is very high.With the requested funding of 25.000.- CHF a preliminary business plan will be developed. The reuse of steel profiles (RUSS) in the construction industry could lead to a reduction of CO2 emissions of approx. 900 kg CO2 / ton re-used steel (1). As relatively simple products that hardly change their properties over time and thanks to the high product standardization, they should also be well suited as a "door opener" for the spread of the "reuse philosophy" in other sectors of the construction industry.The preparation work for this project was financed by the MAVA foundation with a grant to the “Einkaufskompass”-Initiative.The following activities are under progress:a) Discussions with involved sectors (real estate, demolition, trade, architects / engineering offices, steel construction companies as well as the associated trade associations). b) The aspect of digitalization (component exchanges, databases, information exchange / information flow along the re-use supply chain to be created) is being considered.c) Understanding the (future) business model. Key questions are: - What questions does the property owner ask when deciding whether to demolish or dismantle?- What questions does the property owner ask when deciding to build with new material or RUSS?The next important step for 2022 will be to develop a Business Plan. We are planning a cooperation between industry and university. Key points will be:- Quantification / estimation of the stock (how big is the "urban mine"?)- Collect key figures (precise consumption of steel profiles in Switzerland, achievable sales prices, scrap prices and purchase prices of new profiles, dismantling costs).- Estimation of CAP-EX needed to start an industrial activity around RUSS. Our funding request is for the development of this Business Plan Additional needed activities will be:d) Implementation of prototype projectsSome re-use projects are to be concretely implemented with interested companies. The aim here is to- identify obstacles from practice and to develop and implement re-use measures.- address questions around the re-qualification of profiles.e) Supplementary work- Conduct an LCA analysis to quantify the environmental impact of the RUSS concept.- Clarify questions of re-qualification / adaptation of building standards- Clarify how building standards and labels can consider the RUSS profiles f) Realize/ Exploit- Identify the appropriate industry player (possibly from the demolition or trade sector)- Push for the realization of the needed IT infrastructure- Support the creation of business organization working on the urban mining, refurbishing, and trading of RUSSSource :(1) Fredy Dinkel, Flora Conte & Thomas Kägi, Carbotech AG, Bericht «Ökologische Beurteilung derVerwertung von Bauabfällen”, August 2021, Auftraggeber David Hiltbrunner, Bundesamt für Umwelt

Project Idea Metadata

• Project Idea Name: Re-Use of Steel Sections (RUSS)
• Date: 12/2/2021 8:48:54 AM
• Administrators:
  • Alberto Cerri

Project Idea Description

The reuse of steel profiles (RUSS) in the construction industry could lead to a reduction of CO2 emissions of approx. 900 kg CO2 / ton re-used steel (1). As relatively simple products that hardly change their properties over time and thanks to the high product standardization, they should also be well suited as a "door opener" for the spread of the "reuse philosophy" in other sectors of the construction industry.

The preparation work for this project was financed by the MAVA foundation with a grant to the “Einkaufskompass”-Initiative.

The following activities are under progress:

a) Discussions with involved sectors (real estate, demolition, trade, architects / engineering offices, steel construction companies as well as the associated trade associations).

b) The aspect of digitalization (component exchanges, databases, information exchange / information flow along the re-use supply chain to be created) is being considered.

c) Understanding the (future) business model. Key questions are:

- What questions does the property owner ask when deciding whether to demolish or dismantle?

- What questions does the property owner ask when deciding to build with new material or RUSS?

The next important step for 2022 will be to develop a Business Plan.

We are planning a cooperation between industry and university. Key points will be:

- Quantification / estimation of the stock (how big is the "urban mine"?)

- Collect key figures (precise consumption of steel profiles in Switzerland, achievable sales prices, scrap prices and purchase prices of new profiles, dismantling costs)

.- Estimation of CAP-EX needed to start an industrial activity around RUSS.

Our funding request is for the development of this Business Plan

Additional needed activities will be:

d) Implementation of prototype projects

Some re-use projects are to be concretely implemented with interested companies. The aim here is to

- identify obstacles from practice and to develop and implement re-use measures.

- address questions around the re-qualification of profiles.

e) Supplementary work

- Conduct an LCA analysis to quantify the environmental impact of the RUSS concept.

- Clarify questions of re-qualification / adaptation of building standards

- Clarify how building standards and labels can consider the RUSS profiles

f) Realize/ Exploit

- Identify the appropriate industry player (possibly from the demolition or trade sector)

- Push for the realization of the needed IT infrastructure

- Support the creation of business organization working on the urban mining, refurbishing, and trading of RUSS

Source :

(1) Fredy Dinkel, Flora Conte & Thomas Kägi, Carbotech AG, Bericht «Ökologische Beurteilung der

Verwertung von Bauabfällen”, August 2021, Auftraggeber David Hiltbrunner, Bundesamt für Umwelt

The aim of the project is to eliminate the CO2 emissions caused by the re-melting and hot rolling of steel sections which could be re-used.

Currently the Swiss consumption (Import-Export) is around 130.000 t / year.

The CO2 saving per ton re-used steel sections were estimated to be around 900 kg CO2/ t steel (Carbotech Report August 2021).

Therefore, the saving potential is very high.

With the requested funding of 25.000.- CHF a preliminary business plan will be developed.