Sustainability and environmental impact are a major concern in the current global environment

The SRIA promotes a program of steel stewardship, seeking to engage the whole steel reinforcement supply chain in adopting improved environmentally sustainable practices. SRIA members led by a sustainability committee support environmental sustainability to measure and benchmark the industry’s environmental, social and economic performance.

SRIA Environmental Sustainability Policy (ESP)

SRIA’s goal is to encourage the economic, elegant and innovative design and construction of reinforced concrete structures through practical solutions to meet the diverse and ever changing needs of the Australian building industry.

SRIA Members support Environmental Sustainability to measure and benchmark the industry's environmental, social and economic performance. This is a continual process of benchmarking, monitoring and measuring progress. The SRIA has established and maintains global networks to deliver improvement programs of responsible best practice to the local steel reinforcing sector.

SRIA’s reinforcing sustainability policy has the following inter-reliant core objectives:

Environmental leadership

Sustainable construction materials support sustainable development and are characterised as being environmentally friendly. SRIA focuses on the characteristics of steel reinforcing materials to promote the minimum environmental, social and economic impact. They include:
  • Durability;
  • Local or regional processing to minimise transportation needs;
  • Manufactured with minimised pollution or does not itself pollute;
  • Minimum amount of energy required to produce;
  • Commitment to the promotion of recovery and recycling;
  • Capable of being used in an innovative way to lessen social, environmental, and economic impacts.
The SRIA supports the Building Products Innovation Council (BPIC) in its three major areas of building code reform, product certification, and sustainability. Reinforcement data is being submitted to a National materials data base that will create a “level playing field” for all construction materials.  This is part of a Life Cycle Inventory for construction materials.  It will be used in Life Cycle Assessment, and ultimately in Sustainability Rating Tools for more energy efficient and sustainable commercial and residential building construction.  

Further details can be found on the BPIC website.


Safety and health
SRIA promotes industry wellbeing and a safe and healthy working environment. Monthly LTI’s and MTI’s of participating member companies are recorded. This data enables member companies to compare and benchmark their safety record against the National industry.  The aim is to achieve an accident-free workplace with zero harm to all steel reinforcing industry employees and contractors.

Community well-being

Clients who emphasise sustainable development want to know if steel reinforcing is a sustainable construction  material. Sustainable development requires the selection and sensible application of sustainable construction materials. SRIA is contributing to rating tools and educates the market in minimising the environmental, social and economic impact of steel reinforced solutions.

Economic responsibility

SRIA members seek new technologies and systems to operate businesses in an efficient and financially sustainable way with a reduced carbon footprint. Products are optimised for life cycle eco-efficiency throughout the stages of production, application, recovery and recycling.

Building innovation and excellence

The SRIA promotes innovation through new technology and best practice in the use of steel reinforcing in the building and construction sectors. High quality technical support and information services are provided to the Australian building industry. The SRIA also supports all Australian universities teaching Civil/Structural Engineering Degrees by making available to them a practical reinforcement lecture package and design handbooks. This industry linkage is invaluable for a practical insight for the future designers and detailers of reinforced concrete.