The American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) announced it is expanding its sustainability efforts by creating a team of three sustainability experts and updating steel industry environmental product declaration (EPDs).
Brian Raff, vice president of sustainability and government relations at AISC, says, “Surprisingly few people know that wide flange steel sections, straight from the mill, consist of an average of 93 percent recycled steel scrap (from things like cars, refrigerators, and decommissioned bridges), and all structural steel is 100 percent recyclable without loss of properties. It’s a truly circular supply chain, which is unique among American structural materials. My team will also work to ensure that all of the sustainable benefits that structural steel offers remain a viable option for designers and builders across the country.
“AISC’s sustainability team will work to ensure the design community has the information they need to design truly sustainable buildings and bridges. But sustainability is only part of the story. AISC is dedicated to keeping America’s infrastructure moving forward with robust, long-term funding. We also support American workers and their families through Buy America requirements and protect future generations with responsible environmental policy. Finally, on international trade, we always insist that if any trade action is taken, it must include downstream users of mill material like fabricated structural steel.”
AISC’s sustainability staff includes Raff, Max Puchtel, PE, LEED Green Associate, director of sustainability and government relations at AISC, and, Jonathan Tavarez, PE, of AISC.
“[Puchtel] has done an exceptional job coordinating AISC’s sustainability efforts up to this point, and [Tavarez] and I are excited to build upon the strong foundation that [Puchtel] has already established,” Raff says. “AISC is committed to leading the construction marketplace on sustainability by championing transparency and disclosure, empowering the design community, fostering a truly circular supply chain, and supporting broad industry decarbonization by 2050.”
