OREANDA-NEWS. August 01, 2014. A new, independent study has shown that steel is the best material to use in bridges. With ArcelorMittal steel already chosen for its quality and strength in countless bridges across the world, the results in the study by an environmental consultancy give a further stamp of approval to steel and its sustainability.

The study, Comparative Life Cycle Analysis of Bridges, analysed road and bicycle bridges. Carried out by the environmental consultancy Beco on behalf of Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland - a Dutch governmental organisation- the study included input from suppliers of wood, concrete, plastics and steel.

With sustainability now a key factor when seeking to procure construction materials, the study revealed that steel is more than twice as sustainable as plastic composites or other materials when used to build bridges. Steel performed the best in road bridges thanks to its low environmental footprint which is due to its relatively low weight as well as its excellent recycling properties, the study explained: "Compared to plastic composites, a steel road bridge has a 60% lower environmental footprint. Wood on the other hand scores best for bicycle bridges, followed by steel, concrete and (at a distance) plastics."

Steel can be endlessly recycled without loss of quality and is a true cradle-to-cradle material. It is used but never consumed because it is recycled in a closed loop that can continue forever.

The findings will be of great significance to designers and architects, construction companies and those responsible for materials purchasing for projects.

An existing legacy of building bridges
ArcelorMittal has supplied steel for various record breaking bridges. 130,000 tonnes of rebar produced at our Lazaro Cardenas site in Mexico has been used in the 1,124m long Baluarte Bicentennial Bridge in the country; the highest cable-stayed bridge in the world. Distribution Solutions has also contributed by coordinating supply of 6,000 tonnes of our rebar for an 11km bridge in Venezuela; the third-longest bridge in the world.

Also, 50,000 tonnes of plate produced at our US facilities is going in to the iconic Tappan Zee Bridge being built in New York.