Assessing the Global Sustainability Impact of Improving the Secondary Steel Production: Lessons Learned from an Italian Steel Plant

Abstract

This study presents a comprehensive sustainability assessment of a series of technical interventions aimed at improving a secondary steel production process using the Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) technology in a steel plant located in northern Italy. The assessment covers the environmental, social, and economic dimensions of sustainability by considering three sets of indicators and employing a multi-criteria decision-making approach. The results show that the considered interventions can lead to significant improvements in the sustainability performance of the EAF process. The study also highlights the trade-offs and synergies among the sustainability dimensions and provides recommendations for decision-makers to promote sustainable practices in the steel industry. Overall, this study underscores the importance of addressing the sustainability challenges faced by energy-intensive industries such as steel production.