Environmental Product Declaration published for “Pure Steel+ Rail” products

Saarstahl Rail, a subsidiary of Saarstahl AG, published in August the first Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for its “Pure Steel+ Rail” products. The EPD, which contains information about the environmental impact of a product, affirms Saarstahl Rail’s pioneering role in the mobility sector.

Saarstahl Rail is the only supplier in Europe to offer low-carbon rails produced with an electric arc furnace (EAF) route. A complete life cycle assessment was conducted of this route as part of an Environmental Product Declaration. Around 70% of carbon emissions can be saved with this method when compared to production using the blast furnace route. “Pure Steel+ Rail” supplies high-quality rail products manufactured at Saarstahl Rail’s hot rolling mill in Hayange, France, using EAF-based input material from Saarstahl Ascoval in St. Saulve, France. They complement Saarstahl AG’s product portfolio since mid-2021.

An EPD presents all relevant environmental impacts transparently and provides clear information about the environmental impact of the product. The entire life cycle is considered, from raw material extraction to the boundaries of the Saarstahl Rail plant (cradle-to-gate). The extensive quantitative product information in the declarations includes, for example, statements on the use of energy and resources, the amount of waste generated, and emissions data. The EPD also provides information on waste disposal and recycling management. This information makes it possible to distinguish whether a product can be disposed of at the end of its life cycle or returned to the production cycle. Products from Saarstahl Rail can be recycled multiple times with no loss of quality and therefore make a significant contribution to resource efficiency.

“The EPD for Pure Steel+ Rail spells out the environmental sustainability of our rail products from secondary steel production in the electric arc furnace at Saarstahl Ascoval. Over the entire life cycle, reductions of carbon emissions of around 70% are therefore possible in comparison with the industry average. We are contributing decisively here to carbon reduction in the mobility sector,” explains Matthias Dilschneider from the Environmental Protection department at Saarstahl AG.

The EPD is available to the public from the website of “Institut Bauen und Umwelt e.V.” (Institute for Construction and Environment).