Public Funding for Cleveland Steel & Tubes Limited

DISRUPT II (Delivering Innovative Steel ReUse ProjecT II) builds on the DISRUPT feasibility study which explored the use of reclaimed structural steel in construction by developing a robust and scalable business model. DISRUPT II undertakes a deep dive focusing on the supply of reused steel from the demolition sector and its different uses; extending to non-structural products. To ensure future circularity, the project is also providing a platform for engagement between the design and engineering and the demolition and end of life communities; this does not happen currently. The DISRUPT study has identified that a key barrier to a significant uptake of steel reuse, is the lack of available material generated during refurbishment and demolition projects. There are a number of reasons for this including the inertia of the demolition sector, lack of incentives to reuse rather than recycling, the need for enabling processes, and a lack of awareness and understanding leading to a perception of the heightened barriers to reuse. DISRUPT II will address this key barrier by working with the demolition industry through the sector body, companies and with one of the largest stockholders, to establish the crucial evidence that is needed to enable more steel to be reclaimed. This will be supported by the larger value chain - clients, designers, engineers and contractors. The project will work on real life projects in the demolition industry and create new sector guidance and toolkits. This will include aspects such as model procurement, risk and programme management, pre-demolition audits, cost and benefit assessment for various reuse routes for steel products, guidance on how to design circularity in and carbon modelling and associated credits. DISRUPT II will ensure a readily available supply of reclaimed steel, fulfilling a circular economy approach and help the construction industry on the road to net zero.

_DISRUPT (Delivering Innovative Steel ReUse ProjecT) seeks to explore the innovative reuse of structural steel in construction and encourage the adoption of new circular economy business models that can help tackle the climate emergency._ _Steel is one of the most widely used and resource intensive materials used in construction. Although commonly recycled at end of life, the reuse of steel is minimal despite the apparent environmental, carbon and circular economy benefits. The high value of steel at end of life can be realised by being reused in a wide range of construction applications._ _Previous studies have shown that there are barriers to reuse including economic factors, supply chain issues, availability, and lack of demand. New business models are required to ensure that the benefits of steel reuse are accrued across the value chain and underpin the activities of existing and new actors._ _DISRUPT seeks to address these challenges by bringing together the leading actors involved in steel construction reuse - client, contractor, and stockist, and those that will be particularly impacted by the transition from a recycling to a reuse model, such as demolition contractors._ _A detailed feasibility study will be undertaken focusing on real life case studies which track the 'journey' of reused steel from start to finish, providing a rich data source covering different sizes and types of projects, and variability in geographical location across the UK._ _The project will deliver new costed circular business models that can act as a blueprint for other companies interested in entering the reuse sector, ultimately to achieve a greater supply of reuse steel into the marketplace. If steel reuse is to become mainstream, it is imperative that new business models are profitable and equitable to the whole value chain, and that reused steel is readily available and easy to specify within construction projects._ _DISRUPT aims to prove that steel reuse can have a major role to play in mitigating climate change._

The project team is Ellis and Moore, Cleveland Steel and Tubes, Steel Construction Institute and Cullinan Studio, led by the Alliance for Sustainable Building Products. The National Federation of Demolition Contractors, UCL Institute of Sustainable Resources and University of Cambridge have all offered expertise. It aims to overcome barriers to steel re-use and kick-start a market in five to ten years of 25kT per year, 10% of current UK scrap arising, with a value of £12.5m. Steel re-use has 4% impact of new steel (BRE: 2004), offers cost benefits and job creation. Circular economy principles indicates the building is no longer the end product. Instead, the built environment can be viewed as a rolling infrastructure of products; this demands a new approach to the design of buildings. By designing first for deconstruction and re-use, it is essential that architects, engineers and deconstruction/ salvage experts communicate; currently they are at either end of a linear supply chain. This project will develop a plan for a value network to address this and develop business models for Cleveland Steel and Tubes and ASBP to operate in this new market.