RE 2020: Steel reuse, an already operational solution for decarbonizing commercial and industrial buildings

As environmental regulations (RE 2020) become more stringent with their extension to commercial and industrial buildings, the metal construction sector is reaching a turning point. Long considered marginal, steel reuse is now emerging as a concrete solution, immediately available to reduce the carbon footprint of projects while securing supplies.

An immediate response to new regulatory requirements

The recent publication of the implementing decree for the RE 2020 regulation for the service and industrial sectors marks a key milestone for all stakeholders in the building industry. Faced with increasingly demanding carbon targets, project owners, specifiers, and companies must now integrate low-carbon solutions.

In this context, recycled steel appears as one of the most effective levers. Whereas new steel generates on average 1,67 kg CO₂ equivalent per kilogram, and low-carbon steel around 0,68 kg, recycled steel makes it possible to achieve a near-zero impact.

Moving beyond the "demolish to rebuild" model

Even today, when a steel building reaches the end of its lifespan, the dominant reflex remains demolition followed by recycling the material. An old and well-established model, but one that emits a significant amount of carbon and is not very virtuous in terms of resource recovery.

Conversely, selective deconstruction allows us to consider steel not as waste, but as a resource. This paradigm shift paves the way for a new, more virtuous approach, from an environmental, economic, and strategic perspective.

Reuse thus allows:

to significantly reduce emissions related to the production of new materials,
to preserve the value of existing structures,
and to secure supplies in a context of tensions over raw materials.

A sector that is now structured and ready for industrialization

Contrary to popular belief, the reuse of structural steel is no longer experimental. It is now part of a well-established technical framework, supported by the entire industry.

The Industrial Technical Centre for Metal Construction (CTICM) plays a central role in this structuring, with the establishment of the Metal Reuse ecosystem, composed of:

from a digital platform, https://metalreemploi.com/
of professional recommendations recognized by the C2P of the AQC, guaranteeing the insurability of reused structural steel elements,
from a network of certified partners and retrainers,
a mobile laboratory to assist companies in diagnosing existing structures and in requalifying reused products,
as well as operational support tools to integrate reuse into projects (including a clause set facilitating the integration of reuse into standard technical specifications).

According to Amor Ben Larbi, Director of Research Projects at CTICM: “Steel reuse is no longer a prospect, it is an operational reality. Today, we have a robust technical framework, recognized by the entire industry, which guarantees the traceability, performance, and insurability of reused components. In the context of the RE 2020 regulations and the risks associated with supply, it represents an immediate lever for reducing the carbon footprint of projects while securing resources.”

A strategic opportunity for all stakeholders

Beyond the regulatory response, the reuse of steel represents a genuine lever for competitiveness for players in the sector:

For project owners and investors: improved ESG (environmental, social and governance) performance and increased attractiveness of projects,
For specifiers: differentiation and skills development in low-carbon solutions,
For businesses: integration into increasingly demanding environmental markets.

Each year, nearly 650.000 tonnes of steel from the construction sector are recycled in France. Part of this resource can now be directed towards reuse, with a target of 15% by 2030.

Towards a local, sustainable and sovereign sector

By structuring the reuse of steel, the metal construction sector also contributes to strengthening industrial sovereignty. By relying on local resources and an ecosystem of stakeholders spread across the country, it offers a credible alternative to globalized supply chains.

This dynamic is fully in line with the current challenges of ecological transition, economic resilience, territorial development and reindustrialization.