Are you tired of plastic? Are you tired of everything being disposable? Do you long for the days when you bought parts that were made of galvanized steel and other hard metals that were meant to last? In a time when the whole planet is making the move to plastic, it is good to know that there is still an entire industry that relies on the dependability of galvanized steel for the tools and the supplies that America’s work force really needs.
Consider some of these facts and figures about today’s galvanized steel and stainless steel industry and how those products impact the economics of this country:

• Steel remains one of the most recycled materials on Earth. The latest statistics from the American Iron and Steel Institute indicate that 88% of steel in the world is recycled.
• 66% of new steel comes from old recycled stock and byproducts. This includes processing liquids, as well as slags and dust steelmaking products that can be both extracted and sold.
• 69% of steel is recycled in North America every single year.
• For every single ton of steel that is recycled, nearly 2,500 pounds of iron ore, 1,400 pounds of coal, and 120 pounds of limestone are conserved.
• Steel parts are now more dent resistant and are as much as 30% stronger than they were a decade ago, meaning that many things today can be build with less material, but still be stronger.
• 83,000 tons of steel was needed for the Golden Gate Bridge when it was initially built in 1955. Only half of that amount of steel would be needed today because of the superior strength of today’s steel production.
• The amount of energy needed to produce a ton of steel today has been reduced by 34% since 1972.

Steel production, like all technologies, continues to improve and become more efficient. While there may have at one time been a goal to produce the most amount of steel in the shortest amount of time, many of today’s steel producers focus on creating a stronger product that lasts longer. In a time when much of the world seems to be made of disposable products that have a very short life, the steel industry still works to crate products that have long lasting lives.