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Dofasco Steel for Construction Certified with EcoLogo

10/21/2004 - Dofasco steel for construction products has been certified to Environment Canada's Environmental Choice(M) Program. Dofasco’s steel will carry the EcoLogo(M) symbol, which provides customers assurance they have made an environmentally responsible decision when using Dofasco steel for their steel building products.

Dofasco steel for construction products has been certified to Environment Canada's Environmental Choice(M) Program. Dofasco’s steel will carry the EcoLogo(M) symbol, which provides customers assurance they have made an environmentally responsible decision when using Dofasco steel for their steel building products.

The EcoLogo and criteria statement assure consumers that the manufacturing process and product meet a defined standard.

In Dofasco's case, the company's steel for construction applications is certified to meet:

  • 50% minimum total recycled content
  • 15% minimum post-consumer content (post-consumer content is material generated by household, commercial, industrial or institutional facilities, which may include appliances, automobiles, steel cans and steel construction materials.)

Further, under the Environmental Choice Program standard, the manufacture of Dofasco's steel for construction uses must meet stringent energy consumption requirements (embodied energy).

Dofasco must also have a sound environmental management system and adhere to sound environmental management practices at its production facilities.

Dofasco's construction steel (galvanized and Galvalume(TM)) is used in products such as light steel framing, decking and cladding for residential and commercial construction. Residential homeowners also use light steel framing for smaller projects, such as basements, additions or renovations.

Dofasco is the first steel company to be certified by the Environmental Choice Program's steel for construction products standard and the first steel company to earn the right to use the EcoLogo symbol. The symbol is three doves intertwined in the shape of a maple leaf. Each dove represents a sector of society — consumers, industry and government — working together to improve the quality of the environment. Under the logo will be the statement: "Dofasco Steel Certified by Environment Canada's Environmental Choice Program."

"We are proud to achieve this certification, which is consistent with Dofasco's commitment to the principles of sustainability," said Brian Aranha, Vice President—Commercial at Dofasco Inc. "EcoLogo certification is a highly regarded third-party verification. We are pleased that Dofasco can now provide increased value to our customers with the assurance that the Dofasco steel used in their construction products meets a demanding environmental standard."

TerraChoice Environmental Marketing, an independent organization that administers the program on behalf of Environment Canada, will monitor Dofasco through plant visits and examination of production records to ensure the company continues to meet certification requirements.

In 2003, the Asthma Society of Canada recognized that steel framing made with Dofasco steel is part of a healthy indoor air environment.

As a result of these recognitions, Dofasco has developed a visual element combining the EcoLogo, the Dofasco logo and the Asthma Society of Canada logo. The visual can be used for packaging and marketing materials at Dofasco. It is also being provided to construction customers for use in their sales and marketing materials, so end-consumers at the retail level know that they are buying products made from Dofasco steel.

Dofasco is a leading North American steel solutions provider. Product lines include hot rolled, cold rolled, galvanized, Extragal(TM), Galvalume(TM) and tinplate flat rolled steels, as well as tubular products, laser welded blanks and Zyplex(TM), a proprietary laminate. Dofasco's wide range of steel products is sold to customers in the automotive, construction, energy, manufacturing, pipe and tube, appliance, packaging and steel distribution industries.