Keltbray, a UK leader in specialist engineering and construction, is driving significant advancements in the reuse of structural steel within the construction industry, reinforcing their commitment to a circular steel economy. As a platinum sponsor of the prestigious Circular Steel Event 2024 this week, Keltbray played a key role in shaping discussions on the future of steel reuse, a critical step towards reducing the industry’s carbon footprint and promoting sustainable building practices.
The event brought together industry professionals, thought leaders, and innovators to explore the progress, challenges, and opportunities surrounding steel reuse in construction. Keltbray showcased their leadership in this space by highlighting their technical achievements and demonstrating how they are setting new benchmarks in sustainable steel practices.
Holly Price, Group Sustainability Director at Keltbray, chaired the opening session, “Meeting the Demand,” where the pros and cons of demolition versus dismantling and disassembly were discussed. This is an area where Keltbray is currently leading, thanks to their emphasis on remodelling projects, which prioritises material recovery over traditional demolition.
Other key topics addressed during the event included:
- How to effectively extract steel for reuse while managing the cost, programme, and health and safety impacts of changing methodologies.
- The importance of collaboration to achieve ambitious reuse targets across the industry.
- The advancement in design to allow flexibility to a late stage, to “swap in” reuse sections.
- The benefit of identifying donor building assets when reviewing the construction of a new asset.
A flagship example of Keltbray’s success in harvesting steel for reuse was presented through their work on the 2 Aldermanbury Square project. Early engagement with stakeholders was crucial to recovering 1,500 tonnes of steel, 700 tonnes of which were reused in the new build, with the remaining 800 tonnes allocated to other projects. This showcases not only the technical feasibility but also the economic and environmental benefits of steel reuse.
Scott De La Fuente, Operations Director & Steelwork Lead at Keltbray, remarked on the project: “The 2 Aldermanbury Square project is a prime example of what can be achieved when sustainability is integrated from the outset. By championing steel reuse, we’ve significantly reduced waste and embodied carbon while demonstrating that circular economy principles can create real value for stakeholders. This will shape the future of construction.”
The day also featured a session titled “Lessons Learned,” where Kiro Tamer, Head of Environmental Sustainability at Keltbray, shared insights from their work. Key takeaways included:
- The necessity of early stakeholder engagement to ensure alignment on reuse objectives.
- The challenge of timing in securing second-hand steel for projects, as there are uncertainties around when materials will become available.
- The substantial carbon savings from steel recovery, which are over ten times greater per tonne compared to using new steel.
- A willingness to embrace failure, as lessons from project challenges can benefit the wider industry.
The event coincided with an AJ Retrofit Live Circular Steel workshop the following day, where Scott de la Fuente, Operations director and Steelwork Lead for Keltbray had the opportunity to host a “round table” discussion with key clients and developers, alongside Steve Gilchrist, Founder of Circular Steel. The session further enhanced the messages of the previous day and allowed meaningful conversation with the decision makers of the industry, posed to lead the bold advancements in this space.
Steve Gilchrist commented, “Having leaders such as Keltbray involved in Circular Steel provides the focused insights and learning required to make meaningful progress in advancing the scale of the reuse marketplace, especially where it is clear to see the appetite from asset owners is there, supported by their engagement in such events and the roundtable. The feedback from the attendees has been extremely positive, and both the main event and roundtable were deemed very informative”.
Keltbray’s leadership in this space is reshaping the construction industry’s approach to steel, traditionally viewed as a linear material in supply chains. Their commitment to steel reuse and early stakeholder collaboration has enabled projects like 2 Aldermanbury Square to set new standards for material recovery and sustainable construction, whilst integration of reuse sections into their other projects such as 76 Upper Ground and Woolgate Exchange schemes demonstrate Keltbray’s unique positioning across the full circularity of the process.
The event emphasised the increasing importance of the circular economy in the construction industry. Keltbray’s innovations and their focus on decarbonisation have positioned the company at the forefront of sustainable development. Steel reuse is a critical factor in reducing embodied carbon, and Keltbray’s technical expertise and collaborative efforts are paving the way for a more sustainable future.
For more information on Keltbray’s circular economy initiatives or their work in steel reuse, please contact scott.delafuente@keltbray.com.
