POSCO became Korea’s first steel company to obtain the Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) certification from the Ministry of Environment.

On January 24, five of POSCO products – steel plate, wire rod, Hot-rolled Galvanized Iron (HGI), Giga Steel (980DP), and high corrosion-resistant steel plates – all received certification for the following seven environmental indicators: carbon footprint, resource footprint, ozone layer influence, acid rain, eutrophication, photochemical smog, and water footprint.

In the steel construction materials market recently, there is a higher demand for eco-friendly products. The buildings constructed with EPD-certified materials are eligible for bonus points in case the building meets the criteria for G-SEED, Green Standard for Energy and Environmental Design. Accordingly, the demand for eco-friendly materials is likely to escalate even more.
* G-SEED (Green Standard for Energy and Environmental Design) is a certification system for Green Architecture that contributes to the reduction of energy consumption and environmental pollution during the entire construction process, from design and construction to post-construction maintenance and management.

POSCO’s EPD certification highlighted the fact that steel products are environmentally sustainable from the holistic perspective of the Life Cycle Assessment approach which accesses environmental impact of material from all stages of production – from procurement, manufacturing, sales, distribution to recycling.
* LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) is a methodology to assess environmental impacts associated with all the stages of a product’s life from raw material extraction, production, distribution, disposal to recycling.

▲ South Korea’s longest suspension bridge, Yi Sun-Sin Bridge, is built with POSCO’s EPD-certified steel plates and wire rods

POSCO expects the Environment Ministry’s certification will boost the competitiveness of its products in the steel industry market that prioritizes environmental sustainability, as well as to make their eco-friendly business practice more public.

EPD certification scheme was first introduced in 2001 to offer transparency to consumers on the environmental impacts of the products they use. Administered by the Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute under the supervision of the Ministry of Environment, the certification scheme also aims to promote more sustainable consumption for the consumers. A total of 461 products received EPD certification to date.

POSCO’s globally acclaimed ‘corrosion-resistant steel’, PosMAC acquired first domestic EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) certification from US’s global safety and quality certification company, UL(Underwriters’ Laboratories) Environment.

Environmental Product Declaration is a standardized certification system of quantifying the environmental impact of products or services. This certification authority transparently evaluates the overall production process of all products from the extraction of raw materials, supply, production, use, and disposal. The certification standard complies with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), thus fundamental to earn in entering the global market.

US’s UL(Underwriters’ Laboratories) is the parent organization of the certification authority, UL Environment. UL was first established in 1894 as US’s first safety standardization and authorization company, performing public authorization of not only steel products but a varied range of products such as electronics and information communications, medical, and renewable energy materials. The UL Environment’s EPD certificate has been acknowledged in the global market for drawing credibility.

The EPD-certified PosMAC is a new generation steel developed by POSCO’s unique technology that drastically improved the corrosion-resistant capabilities. PosMAC’s corrosion-resistant capability is more than five times that of previous galvanized steel plate. This is achieved by an oxidized layer called ‘Simonkolleite’, which is composed of zinc, magnesium, and aluminum that protects the surface from corrosion with a long-lasting effect while covering the cutting plate enhancing its resistance to corrosion.

Its superior resistance to corrosion as opposed to previous galvanized steel plate minimizes reconstruction from corrosion through providing long-lasting protection from severe environment such as chlorine, alkaline, high temperatures and humidity. This relatively decreases fuel, raw material, greenhouse gases, and other pollution-generating emissions from the manufacturing of additional steel required for reconstruction. All the reasons why PosMAC is highly competitive as an eco-friendly material. (Ask an Expert: Maximizing Sustainability and Minimizing Environmental Impact)

PosMAC applied in Alamo solar power plant in San Antonio, US

These leading qualities of PosMAC gaining worldwide recognition in the solar energy market granted a supply agreement with NEXTracker, the world’s lead solar tracking system manufacturer. Solar energy structures require highly corrosion-resistant materials due to its longstanding exposure in harsh conditions. In the domestic scene, where installation sites are rather limited, PosMAC is applied in offshore solar structures where extremely high corrosion-resistant materials are required.

POSCO claims “This EPD certification contributes to PosMAC’s competence in solar energy and building materials market in Europe and US where sustainability is a significant movement while enriching the eco-friendly brand image leading the age of low-carbon economy and sustainability.”