Just How “Green” Is Stainless Steel?
With the inception of environmental awareness & the increased need to reduce carbon footprints, sustainable products have become in vogue. Businesses are looking for better solutions & materials to ensure their products are environmentally friendly. Stainless steel is one of those materials.
To put it bluntly, stainless steel is the ultimate “green” product. But, what exactly makes stainless steel a better choice & a “green” product? Why should environment-conscious company owners put their faith in stainless steel over other materials?
Here are some major reasons why stainless steel is truly an eco-friendly material:
Recyclability – The #1 Reason
Steel is the world’s most recycled material, with more steel recycled annually than aluminum, glass & paper combined. During production, stainless steel uses scrap metal as its primary raw material, with up to 70% of the product coming from recycled material.
With that said, stainless steel is 100% recyclable with no loss in value & can be recycled at dedicated reclamation sites. Even if stainless steel is not recycled & it does find its way to a landfill or disposal site, it will have
no harmful effect to the soil or groundwater.
Non-Corrosive, Protective Surface
A sustainable material must be harmless to the user in handling & disposal. A protective layer forms naturally on all stainless steels because of the inclusion of chromium. The layer protects the steel from corrosion – ensuring a long life. Unlike carbon steel, stainless steel won’t rust & release toxic elements into the surrounding environment.
For this reason, these characteristics have made stainless steel the primary material in food service applications. As long as the correct grade of stainless is selected for an application, the steel remains harmless to the people who handle it & the environment.
Minimal Maintenance
Stainless steel is low maintenance & can be wiped clean of dirt & grime without the use of harsh chemicals which have negative environmental impacts. Under ordinary conditions, the secret of keeping your stainless steel surfaces bright as new is simple: light but frequent cleaning, usually with no more than a damp cloth then dry with a soft cloth. That’s all there is to it.
Superior Strength
Due to its durability, stainless steel has a much longer life span than other materials. Increased durability means less maintenance & less replacement costs. This ultimately leads to a long life cycle. Simply put, stainless steel is the preferred material for “green” buildings throughout the world due to its superior strength.
No Extra Coatings
Stainless steel requires no additional coatings such as paints or varnishes which can give off hazardous compounds & release toxic chemicals into the environment. Furthermore, stainless steel is not coated with any toxic material & does not produce toxic run-off.
At IMC/Teddy, our products are proudly made in the United States of America using the highest quality stainless steel. More specifically, we manufacture all of our products with Type 300 Series stainless steel. Type 300 Series stainless steel is proven to be the most useful material in the food service industry due to its strength, durability, & corrosion resistance. For a closer look at our mission, click here.
Wow…I have used stainless steel products in commercial kitchens for over 40 years. Always new (and appreciated) its low maintenance, non corrosive surface and strength, but didn’t realize that scrap metal is its primary raw material and that steel is the worlds most recycled material! That is fantastic.
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