Sustainability
Committed to Steel Manufacturing Sustainability
Doing Our Part to Protect the Environment
In alignment with our core values, CSC is committed to being responsible stewards towards our environment, community and people. That dedication is reflected in every step of our manufacturing processes and construction practices. From engineering products with responsibly-sourced steel, to minimizing waste and pollution in our production facilities, we strive for a holistic, integrated approach to achieving balance within our external and internal environments.
The Strength of Choice
Customized Steel Products to Meet Your Sustainability Goals
As the leading stand-alone manufacturer of open web steel joists and decking, CSC has the distinct advantage of fully customizing our products to help meet your project’s environmental impact goals.
Our products are high-quality and well-engineered, made with responsibly produced steel from top American suppliers committed to carbon reduction and carbon-zero goals. At CSC, we constantly improve our processes to enhance systems and reduce environmental impact.
Comprehensive U.S. Steel Mill Network
Our extensive relationships with steel mills across the country give us access to a diverse group of steel producers with different sustainable steel options. With guidance from our team, our customers have the benefit of evaluating and choosing steel based on different criteria, such as CO2 emission levels, mill location, and cost.
Our steel producer partners have adopted advanced technologies to reduce emissions and are continuously innovating to achieve net-zero goals. Sustainable innovations employed by our mill partners include:
Electric Arc Furnaces (EAF)
Electrical arc energy is used to melt scrap steel or directly reduced iron (DRI). This closed loop “circular steelmaking” process produces 85% less greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions per ton of steel than traditional basic ore furnaces (BF/BOFs). Almost all products used in steel joist manufacturing are created from the EAF process.
Carbon Capture, Use or Storage (CCUS)
CCUS uses multiple technologies to capture carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions produced during the steelmaking process for reuse in other applications, or for storing emissions to prevent them from entering the atmosphere. When integrated with Hydrogen-Based DRI, these solutions can forge a powerful pathway towards achieving net-zero emissions in the steel industry.
Direct Reduced Iron (DRI)
Often used in EAFs, DRI is a type of iron produced by reducing iron ore using a reducing gas such as hydrogen and carbon monoxide or natural gas. An alternative to pig iron, DRI offers a cleaner and more energy-efficient end product.
Hydrogen Direct Reduction (HDR)
HDR is a cutting-edge process for removing oxygen from iron ore. Water is produced as the by-product, resulting in emission-free ironmaking.
Renewable Energy
U.S. steelmakers are using renewable energy sources like solar and wind power in their production processes to achieve sustainability goals.
Localized Supply Chain for Efficient Logistics
Transporting raw materials and finished steel products over long distances can increase energy consumption and harmful emissions. CSC’s robust supply chain, powered by the comprehensive coverage of our domestic mill partners and CSC’s fabrication plants, minimizes environmental impacts by maintaining proximity to project locations.
Creating Design Efficiencies
CSC’s products are custom engineered and manufactured using our high-quality standards to meet your project’s unique budget and requirements. When an order is placed, a CSC project manager, engineer, and drafter are assigned to each project.
By collaborating with CSC experts starting from the early conceptual phase of a project means that we can recommend ways to balance sustainability objectives, schedule demands, and product costs. Our skilled team of project managers and licensed engineers will work closely with you to craft a personalized product plan designed to mitigate environmental effects, from strategies for efficient material usage to streamlining procurement logistics.
Our Community
Our commitment to industry sustainability is not limited to environmental practices. CSC implements Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) practices that prioritize both environmental issues and social issues alongside responsible corporate administration as a holistic approach to sustainability and stewardship.
Within our plants and surrounding communities, we are equally devoted to maintaining the safety and well-being of our employees, customers and neighbors alike. By cultivating a culture focused on the interdependence of our environment, health and safety (EHS), our company is proactive towards environmental responsibility, illness reduction, and injury prevention. Our commitment to our communities is further demonstrated through a variety of philanthropic efforts, including volunteering and charitable activities.
Learn more about our commitment to our employees and community on our Community page.
Resources
Industry Partnerships
CSC actively supports industry-wide sustainability efforts and initiatives through memberships with the following organizations:
Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs)
Similar to food nutrition labels, environmental product declarations (EPDs) provide objective, third-party verified reports detailing a product’s environmental impact over its life cycle. Providing metrics of a product’s impact on indicators such as global warming, ozone depletion and smog formation, EPD data is incorporated within numerous codes, standards, and rating systems, including green building ratings systems like LEED and Living Building Challenge.
CSC can produce EPD reports upon request for each of our plants to provide transparent, empirical insights into our products. To go a step further, CSC is now able to produce project specific EPDs, which take into account the mill source and project location for even better transparency.
