Design Life-Cycle

Ama Dadzie

Professor Christina Cogdell

DES 040A, Section 04

4 December 2019

The Life Cycle of Metal Straws - Raw Materials

Recently, metal straws have become a popular alternative to plastic as a way to reduce plastic waste and to better become more environmentally friendly. This is due to the fact that they can last several years and are more than a one-time use object, as long as it is properly maintained. Metal straws are made from either one of two common types of stainless steel: 304 or 316 grade stainless steel alloys. Manufacturing of these steels involves a number of processes in which the steel is first cast into slabs and blooms before they are later formed into the desired shape, which would in this case, be tubes. The raw materials used to make 304 and 316 grade stainless steel consists of elements found in earth, along with the secondary material of stainless steel scrap. Varying amounts of these elements used in the manufacturing process provides the steel with certain properties, such as resistance to corrosion. Throughout the life cycle, other materials play important roles. 

304 and 316 grade stainless steel are made from many elements, but the primary elements in the steel consists of chromium and nickel, and the added element of molybdenum to 316. 304 stainless steel is commonly called “18/8” because it contains 18% chromium and 8% nickel. Chromium is found in the earth's crust in a chromite ore. According to the Jefferson Lab, chromium, which is a bluish-gray metal, “is primarily obtained by heating the mineral chromite in the presence of aluminum or silicon” (It's Elemental - The Element Chromium). It is mined in South Africa, Kazakhstan, India, Albania, and Turkey. It is hard and resistant to corrosion, acting as a strong protective barrier to the metals inside. Nickel is obtained from mineral pentlandite and mineral garnierite. Today, it is mostly mined in Sudbury region of Ontario, Canada, where there is a large deposit of nickel believed to be a result of an ancient meteor impact  (It's Elemental - The Element Nickel). Nickel enhances ductility in alloys, allowing the alloys to be drawn or plastically deformed without being damaged. Molybdenum is mostly obtained in the mineral molybdenite, but it can also be found in wulfenite and powellite. “Molybdenum is also obtained as a byproduct of mining and processing tungsten and copper” (It's Elemental - The Element Molybdenum). It is mined in the United States, China, Chile and Peru. The added element of 2% molybdenum to 316 grade makes slightly superior to 304 grade stainless steel because it increases resilience against chlorides. Unlike 304 grade stainless steel, it is not subject to pitting and crevice corrosion in chloride environments. Pitting leads to small holes in the metal. These materials define 304 and 316 grade stainless steel as “Chromium-Nickel austenitic alloy” because of the large amounts of chromium and nickel in them and the low levels of carbon (Stainless Steel 304). They are also non-magnetic. However, the raw materials needed are not just limited to nickel, chromium, and molybdenum.

Iron, carbon, manganese, phosphorus, sulfur, and silicone are other elements used in the composition of these steel, but are much less prominent, as the steels contain less than 2% of each element. All of these elements can be found in the earth’s crust. Each element is necessary for the production of the steel, despite the little amount needed in the production because they all provide the stainless steel grade with certain properties. Manganese, for instance, increases strength in the alloy. Recycled stainless steel is also a necessary material added to the process of stainless steel. Although stainless steel is made of the basic elements found in the earth, those elements only account for 40% of the material needed to make it. The other 60% of the steel is made from stainless steel scrap, with 25% of the scrap consisting of old scrap from products “which have reached the end of their usage life” and 35% consisting of new scrap that comes from production (The Metal Casting). Stainless steel is a fundamental component in the making of itself. Once all the materials are mined and gathered, the manufacturing process begins.

There are a few different steps involved in the manufacturing process of the stainless steel: melting, casting, rolling, annealing, cutting, finishing, and coating.  The raw materials and stainless steel scrap at first melted in an electric arc furnace (EAF). Carbon is then removed from the molten steel through a process known as Argon Oxygen Decarburization (AOD). After this step, the molten steel is cast into solid shapes such as blooms, slabs, and billets. In a process called hot rolling, blooms, billets, and slabs are heated in a furnace and passed through two rolls to be formed into thinner and/or smaller shapes. Slabs are hot rolled into plates, strips, and sheets, while blooms and billets are hot rolled into bars and wires. After this step, the steel goes through annealing, which is when “the steel is heated and cooled under controlled conditions to relieve internal stresses and soften the metal,” and descaling (Stainless Steel). Descaling is the removal of oxide films as a result of the steel being heated. The steel is descaled by pickling, a treatment that uses nitric and hydrofluoric acids. Following this step is a process called cold rolling, where the steel strips and sheets are passed through rolls at a low temperature to further reduce the thickness of the steel. “Sheet and strip are then annealed and descaled” again before going through the cold rolling process once more until the desired thickness, shape, and size is achieved (Stainless Steel). This process of cold rolling is not applied to bars and wires. Cold rolling “increases the yield strength and hardness of the metal” (Hot and Cold Rolling Explained). Once the coiled steel sheets, strips and billets have been made, it can be used to form the metal straws. 

 Metal straws are so recent that they aren’t many sources about whether metal straws companies order straws from manufacturers who produce the steel and shape it into the straws, or whether manufacturers send stainless steel to fabricators who then make the finished product of the metal straws, but we can assume that either way, the process of forming the straws is the same. The steel goes through further processing where it is heated, extruded, pierced and/or welded to form the final tubing that metal straws are made from. There are a few ways to form metal straw tubes. One way is seamless steel tube, where the steel is “extruded from a billet and drawn to finish” (Manufacturing Considerations in Ultra-Small Diameter Tubing). Drawing is a process that pulls and stretches the steel until the desired wall thickness and diameter is reached. The drawing process is done at room temperature, so the steel is not heated first. The materials used in the drawing process includes chlorinated oils, which are used to coat the steel before it is drawn through the die (Shaheen). The tube is then annealed again to be straightened. Cleaning solvents can be used to further clean the tubes to get rid of any residual lubricant. Another way of forming tubes is by welding, where coiled strips of steels are bent in the tube shape and the ends are welded together. After it is welded, the tube goes through the same process as the seamless steel tube of being drawn. The stainless steel tubes can then be cut to the proper length and finished. Most metal straws come in different sizes. The length of metal straws ranges from 8” to 12.5” while the  diameters range from 0.24” to 0.48”. The majority of metal straws, however, are 8.5” long. Unpolished finishes consists of hot and cold rolling the tube as well as annealing. For polished finishes, abrasives are needed. “Abrasives used the most in the finishing phases are diamond, aluminum oxide and silicon carbide” (Metal Polishing (Introduction)). The metal straws can also be colored for those who prefer color over the regular silver of the steel. To color the steel, it is immersed in a “hot chromic/sulphuric acid solution. This is followed by a cathodic hardening treatment in another acidic solution. The base material reacting with the hot acid produces a transparent film” (Stainless Steels - Formability, Fabrication and Finishing). The last step, which is optional, is bending the straw (if the straw is angled) with a pipe bender at a 45 degree angle. Once the final product is made, it can be shipped to consumers.

 The shipping of stainless steel sheets and billets, stainless steel tubes, and the final product of stainless steel straws take a few different materials. While many countries manufacture steel, China is the world’s number one manufacturer of stainless steel (World Steel in Figures 2019). The United States is one of the top importers of stainless steel. It can be assumed that the distribution of the steel around the world is by plane or ships. Planes use jet fuel which is made from crude oil. Crude oil is unrefined petroleum. It is “ a mixture of hydrocarbons… a fossil fuel, and it exists in liquid form in underground pools or reservoirs, in tiny spaces within sedimentary rocks, and near the surface in tar (or oil) sands” (Oil: Crude and Petroleum Products Explained). Cargo ships use bunker fuel. Bunker fuel is what is left over after oil has been refined. “Pitch black and thick as molasses, ‘bunker’ fuel is made from the dregs of the refining process. It’s also loaded with sulfur” (Gallucci). Distribution of metal straws that are made in the United States to consumers are primarily by United Parcel Service (UPS) or United States Postal Service (USPS). UPS and USPS both have different modes of transportation consisting of air (aircraft) and ground (truck). Both companies use gas and fuel for their different modes of transportation but practice sustainability to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Once delivered to consumers, it is up to them to properly maintain and care for the straws.

With proper care and maintenance, metal straws are meant to be reused for years, and are completely recyclable. Metals straws generally come with a cleaning brush. The straws can be easily cleaned with the provided brush, soap, and water. Most metal straws are also dishwasher safe. Once metal straw has reached the end of its life cycle, it can be recycled, because stainless steel is 100% recyclable (Stainless Steel & Special Alloys). Recycled stainless steel a main component in the manufacturing of stainless steel. It can be recycled at any point in its life, although the benefit of stainless steel is that it can last for many years. According to Penn Stainless Steel Inc., “The process for recycling stainless steel is identical to the process for producing stainless steel” (Stainless Steel – Recyclable & Sustainable). The recyclability of metal straws means that less waste fills up landfills. Because of these benefits, metal straws are seen as a better alternative to help reduce waste and protect our environment.

Metal straws are slowly becoming replacements for plastic straws. They are made of food grade stainless steel, grade 304 and 316, which is recyclable. One of the primary materials used in the manufacturing of stainless steel is actually stainless steel scrap from old products. Stainless steel scrap along with elements, such as chromium, nickel, and molybdenum are used to produce stainless steel. Other materials are added during the whole cycle of the production of stainless steel until the final product, the metal straw, has reached the consumer. Stainless steel is made to last for years; it has a long life cycle. It is very durable and resistant to corrosion, making it an ideal material to make metal straws from. 

Bibliography

2018 Corporate Sustainability Progress Report. UPS, https://sustainability.ups.com/media/2018-progress-report.pdf. Accessed 29 Nov. 2019.

2018 Annual Sustainability Report . USPS, https://about.usps.com/what/corporate-social-responsibility/sustainability/report/2018/usps-annual-sustainability-report.pdf. Accessed 29 Nov. 2019.

Done, Brad. “Stainless Steel in Food Manufacturing: Grade Selection and Care.” Manufacturing.net, Manufacturing.net, 2 Aug. 2018, https://www.manufacturing.net/operations/article/13163098/stainless-steel-in-food-manufacturing-grade-selection-and-care. Accessed 20 Oct. 2019.

Exhibit 1: The Making of Stainless Steel. Nickel Institute, https://www.nickelinstitute.org/media/1667/designguidelinesfortheselectionanduseofstainlesssteels_9014_.pdf. Pg. 19. Accessed 26 Nov. 2019.

Gallucci, Maria. “At Last, the Shipping Industry Begins Cleaning Up Its Dirty Fuels.” Yale Environment360, Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, 28 June 2018, https://e360.yale.edu/features/at-last-the-shipping-industry-begins-cleaning-up-its-dirty-fuels. Accessed 26 Nov. 2019.

“Hot and Cold Rolling Explained.” Capital Steel & Wire Inc, 28 Sept. 2009, https://www.capitalsteel.net/news/blog/hot-and-cold-rolling-explained. Accessed 29 Nov. 2019.

“It's Elemental - The Element Carbon.” Jefferson Lab, Jefferson Lab, https://education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele006.html. Accessed Oct. 20 2019.

“It's Elemental - The Element Chromium.” Jefferson Lab, Jefferson Lab, https://education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele024.html. Accessed Oct. 20 2019.

“It's Elemental - The Element Molybdenum.” Jefferson Lab, Jefferson Lab, https://education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele042.html. Accessed Oct. 20 2019.

“It's Elemental - The Element Nickel.” Jefferson Lab, Jefferson Lab, https://education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele028.html. Accessed Oct. 20 2019.

“Manufacturing Considerations in Ultra-Small Diameter Tubing.” HandyTube, https://pittcon.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/HandyTube-Manufacturing-Considerations-in-Ultra-Small-Diameter-Tubing.pdf.

“Metal Polishing (Introduction).” Cratex, Cratex, https://www.cratex.com/metal-polishing. Accessed 29 Nov. 2019.

“Oil: Crude and Petroleum Products Explained.” U.S. Energy Information Administration - EIA - Independent Statistics and Analysis, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 23 May 2019, https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/oil-and-petroleum-products/. Accessed 26 Nov. 2019.

Pretorius, Eugene, Helmut Oltmann, and Jeremy Jones. "EAF fundamentals." New York, PA, LWB Refractories (2010). Accessed 28 Oct. 2019.

Shaheen, Laurence. “Cold Drawing Principles.” The Tube & Pipe Journal, The Fabricators, 8 June 2010, https://www.thefabricator.com/tubepipejournal/article/tubepipeproduction/cold-drawing-principles. Accessed 29 Nov. 2019.

Shen, Wenning, et al. "Preparation and characterization of 304 stainless steel/Q235 carbon steel composite material." Results in Physics 7 (2017): 529-534. Accessed 29 Nov. 2019.

“Stainless Steel.” How Products Are Made, How Products Are Made, Vol 1, http://www.madehow.com/Volume-1/Stainless-Steel.html. Accessed 20 Oct. 2019.

“Stainless Steel 304.” Lenntech. https://www.lenntech.com/stainless-steel-304.htm. Accessed 20 Oct. 2019.

“Stainless Steel & Special Alloys.” Bureau of International Recycling, https://bir.org/industry/stainless-steel/. Accessed 26 Nov. 2019.

“Stainless Steels - Formability, Fabrication and Finishing.” AZo Materials, AZoM, 27 June 2019, https://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=2871. Accessed 26 Nov. 2019.

“Stainless Steel – Recyclable & Sustainable.” Penn Stainless | Stainless Steel Plate, Sheet, and Bar Products, 29 July 2013, http://www.pennstainless.com/blog/2013/07/stainless-steel-recyclable-sustainable/. Accessed 26 Nov. 2019.

Stoll, Carol. “Facts About Chromium.” LiveScience, Live Science, 14 Nov. 2017, https://www.livescience.com/29194-chromium.html. Accessed Oct. 21 2019.

“The Chemistry of Stainless-Steel Tubing.” HandyTube, 20 Dec. 2018, https://handytube.com/application-note-explores-the-chemistry-of-stainless-steel-tubing/. Accessed Oct. 15.

“World Steel in Figures 2019.” World Steel Association, World Steel Association, 3 June 2019, https://www.worldsteel.org/en/dam/jcr:96d7a585-e6b2-4d63-b943-4cd9ab621a91/World%20Steel%20in%20Figures%202019.pdf. Accessed 29 Nov. 2019.

Danielle Dizon

Professor Christina Cogdell

DES 040A, Section 04

4 December 2019

The Life Cycle of Reusable Straws - Embodied Energy

As plastics continue to pollute our environment, public conscientiousness for single-use plastics grows. One plastic product currently under wide scrutiny is plastic straws. Reusable metal straws, which are most commonly made with stainless steel, are the modern substitute to single-use plastic straws. The waste output comparison between plastic straws and reusable metal straws makes it obvious to the consumer which option is more “sustainable” on a superficial level, but the manufacturing processes that are out of the span of the public’s attention use vast amounts of energy. A full understanding of the lifecycle of almost any product shows the overwhelming environmental costs in any form of mass consumerism, which makes finding a truly sustainable product difficult. From gathering its raw materials to manufacturing to distribution, a metal straw is a product that still costs a considerable amount of energy. Consumers regard reusable products as the solution to a pressing global plastic waste issue, but research into the stainless steel production system’s energy usage serves as an unfortunate reminder to consumers: even environmentally friendly products come at a cost to the planet.

Metal straws are clean, simple products, made possible by an extensive mining process. The steps of mining ore follow: extraction, transportation/handling of materials, and beneficiation/processing. Ore extraction includes processes such as drilling, blasting, digging, ventilation, and dewatering (Doe 9). The machines operating these processes are primarily fueled by “electricity and a variety of carbon fuels: natural gas, propane gas and diesel fuel” (Jeswiet and Szekeres 141). The electricity energy sources for stainless steel can be estimated from the values of global aluminum production, which uses three main sources: coal (36 percent), hydroelectricity (49 percent), and natural gas (9 percent) (Norgate et al. 845). At their highest rates, hydroelectricity has an efficiency of 80 percent, and natural gas has an efficiency of 54 percent; black coal has an efficiency rate of only 35 percent (Norgate et al. 845). The extraction processes currently consume an estimated 241 trillion Btu/year in the United States (Doe 23). The handling of the unprocessed materials, which is the second step in mining, utilizes only “highly-intensive” diesel-fueled equipment, such as “service trucks, front-end loaders, bulldozers, bulk trucks, rear-dump trucks and ancillary equipment such as pick-up trucks and mobile maintenance equipment” (Doe 11). The various trucks, loaders, and bulldozers used in handling currently consume 211 TBtu/year (Doe 23). The third step in mining includes beneficiation and processing. Under beneficiation, material is crushed, grinded, and separated. Crushing and grinding processes make use of various crushers and mills. In separations, a large range of equipment is utilized: centrifuges, flotations, screens, filters, cyclones, magnetic separators, pelletizers, solvent extractors, thickeners, trommels. Beneficiation accounts for 592 TBtu/year, with grinding alone accounting for about 83 percent of the energy (Doe 23). A final product is produced after processing, which includes roasting, smelting, and refining; these processes use a relatively small amount of energy (Doe 12). In total, the mining industry currently consumes approximately 1,246 TBtu/year, and the metal mining industry consumes the most energy at 552 TBtu/year (Doe 21). By the end of these processes, metal in its purest form is yielded and is then transported to manufacturers.

Once pure iron ore, which is the main component of stainless steel, is obtained by manufacturers, it undergoes a steelmaking process involving melting and refining (Norgate et al. 841). The most common method in United States steel production is electric arc furnace (EAF) steelmaking; therefore, this method will be investigated mainly (Fruehan et al. 9). Once iron ore is melted in a blast furnace to produce pig iron, it is combined with steel scrap, ferronickel, and ferrochromium in an electric furnace (Norgate et al. 843). The theoretical minimum energies for these melting processes are 8620 MJ/tonne and 1327 MJ/tonne respectively (Fruehan et al. 3). The molten metal is then refined, most commonly with an argon-oxygen decarburization (AOD) vessel. The argon-oxygen decarburization involves oxidizing the carbon in the metal with a mixture of gases, and the process “does not theoretically require energy and is therefore not considered” (Fruehan et al. 9). The end product is stainless steel (Norgate et al. 843). From raw extraction until this point, stainless steel requires approximately 75 MJ per kilogram of material produced (Norgate et al. 844). The average metal straw weighs 13 grams; it costs approximately 0.98 MJ (980,000 J) to produce that amount of steel (“Wholesale Stainless” 1). For reference, running a large TV or PC for one hour uses approximately 1 MJ (“Energy Examples” 1). The four main sources of energy to fuel these processes in the steel industry include natural gases (33 percent), byproduct fuel (27 percent), and coke and breeze (18 percent) (“Steel Industry” 1). After the stainless steel is formed, it continues to undergo processing to be shaped. Rolling steel includes hot and cold method types, and the most energy-intensive aspect is in reheating the steel (Fruehan 11). The total energy used in heating and deformation of stainless steel totals to 897 MJ/t for hot rolling, given that the steel is heated from a starting temperature of 298 K. Once the stainless steel product is formed, it is ready to be distributed to vendors and consumers.

In the United States alone, 17,686 million tons of goods are transported annually, via truck, rail, water, and air (Sprung et al. 4-2). In 2018, 54 percent of U.S. transportation was fueled by gasoline. Distillates fueled another 23 percent, and jet fuel powered 12 percent (“Use of Energy” 1). These three fuels are all sourced from petroleum, a non-renewable energy source (“Use of Energy” 1). Per day, approximately 9.329 million barrels of gasoline and 4.146 million barrels of distillate fuels are used (“Use of Oil” 1). The amount of energy usage of the transportation of goods versus the transportation of people is unclear, but the nearly exclusive use of fossil fuel in the transportation sector in general emphasizes how mass consumerism supports shipping practices that are unsustainable. In the modern day, though, it is nearly impossible for members of the public to avoid participation in mass consumerism; sustainable practices of re-use, maintenance, and recycling are helpful in at least prolonging the lifespan of goods and materials.

Reusable straws only require physical energy from its users for its use, and its required energy for maintenance is marginal. Metal straws require no additional or special maintenance, besides the regular cleaning techniques used for common dishware and utensils. Once reusable straws are no longer needed or wanted by its users, they can be theoretically recycled indefinitely as scrap metal. Recycling metals greatly conserves energy, as it reduces the need to extract natural ores (“Energy Efficiencies” 1). Recycled scrap steel requires only 25 percent of the energy needed in processing iron ore (“Energy Efficiencies” 1). Ideally, no energy is required for the waste management of stainless steel, since the metal can be recycled.

“Environmentally-friendly” is a title that varies in value, depending on one’s perspective on a product or practice. Sustainable products are often labeled as such regarding only what is superficially known by the consumer. As mass consumerism is a key part in society’s everyday lives, the public is widely and understandably unconcerned with its deeper implications, and a green label on packaging is enough to assuage guilt. Being conscientious of these ignored consequences, though, is vital to making lifestyle changes and choices to help reduce the burden mass consumerism lays onto our planet. Reusable straws do stay out of our oceans more than their plastic counterparts, but buying reusable straws still feeds into an industry with high energy costs.

Bibliography

Bardi, Ugo. “The Mineral Question: How Energy and Technology Will Determine the Future of Mining.” Frontiers in Energy Research, vol. 1, 2013, doi:10.3389/fenrg.2013.00009.

Bohn, Rob. “What's the Difference between 304 and 316 Stainless Steel?” Stainless Steel Enclosures | NEMA Enclosures, 27 Sept. 2017, www.nemaenclosures.com/blog/304-and-316-stainless-steel/.

DOE, US. "Mining industry energy bandwidth study." Washington: US Department of Energy (2007).

“Energy Efficiency and Recycling: Start with Recycling Scrap Metal.” GLE Scrap, 25 Jan. 2019, glescrap.com/blog/promoting-energy-efficiency-can-start-recycling-scrap-metal/.

“Energy Examples.” Genesis Now, genesisnow.com.au/reference/energy-examples/.

“Energy Perspectives: Industrial and Transportation Sectors Lead Energy Use by Sector - Today in Energy.” U.S. Energy Information Administration - EIA - Independent Statistics and Analysis, 18 Dec. 2012, www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=9250.

Fruehan, R. J., et al. Theoretical minimum energies to produce steel for selected conditions. Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA (US); Energetics, Inc., Columbia, MD (US), 2000.

Jeswiet, Jack, and Alex Szekeres. “Energy Consumption in Mining Comminution.” Procedia 

CIRP, vol. 48, 2016, pp. 140–145., doi:10.1016/j.procir.2016.03.250.

Norgate, T. E., S. Jahanshahi, and W. J. Rankin. "Assessing the environmental impact of metal production processes." Journal of Cleaner Production 15.8-9 (2007): 838-848.

Pretorius, Eugene, Helmut Oltmann, and Jeremy Jones. "EAF fundamentals." New York, PA, LWB Refractories (2010).

Sprung, Michael J., et al. “Transportation Statistics Annual Report 2018.” 2018.

“Steel Industry Analysis Brief.” Energy Information Administration (EIA)- Manufacturing 

Energy Consumption Survey (MECS) Steel Analysis Brief, www.eia.gov/consumption/manufacturing/briefs/steel/.

“Use of Energy for Transportation.” EIA - Independent Statistics and Analysis, U.S. Energy 

Information Administration (EIA), www.eia.gov/energyexplained/use-of-energy/transportation.php.

“Use of Oil.” EIA - Independent Statistics and Analysis, U.S. Energy Information Administration, www.eia.gov/energyexplained/oil-and-petroleum-products/use-of-oil.php.

“Wholesale Stainless Steel Straws Factory & Custom Manufacturer.” World's First ECO Products Wholesale Supply Chain Center, 13 Nov. 2019, sukeauto.com/stainless-steel-straws-factory/.

Clyde Cruz

Ama Dadzie and Danielle Dizon

DES 40A

Professor Cogdell

The Lifecycle of Metal Straws (Waste)

SukeAuto Wholesale Stainless Steel Straws is a company based in China that has been selling reusable metal straws from 2011 to the present day. Reusable straws have recently become a movement to combat the use of non-biodegradable plastic straws. However, this alternative product may not be completely sustainable as it is marketed by companies such as SukeAuto. This paper will focus on how SukeAuto Wholesale Stainless Steel Straws contribute as well as avoid waste/emissions. These impacts are generative to SukeAuto since it was difficult to directly contact the company abroad; however, relevant information was found from studies that focus on the stainless steel industry at a global scale. Specifically, by discussing how stainless steel factories contribute waste by generating byproducts when acquiring alloys, hazardous emissions during production, greenhouse gases within shipping, and solid waste during disposal. Also, discuss the prevention of waste through SukeAuto’s recovery of scrap metals and featured brush cleaners for straws to be reused.

SukeAuto’s straws are composed of stainless steel and when acquiring the materials for production, hazardous byproducts are created such as slag and dust. In the article, “Ways of Improving Stainless Steel Production Indices,” it states, “...there is an unavoidable increase in metal loss in the form of oxides of chromium...with furnace slag and dust released from a furnace” (Gudim 1093). Stainless steel is generally made up of recycled scrap metals; however, it also contains a portion of chromium due to its non-corrosive benefits. When acquiring chromium, it has to be melted in a furnace to be extracted from the ore. The residual amount of metal wasted in this melting process takes the form of slag and dust. According to the article, slag consists of “Al2O3, SiO2, P, Cr2O3, MnO, MgO, CaO, and FeO” (Gudim 1094), which transport toxic compounds in the environment, potentially alter habitats, and threaten life when mismanaging metal waste. This can be concerning because as these contaminants continue to accumulate, they can enter the food chain of wildlife and to humans when relying on natural resources. In terms of metal dust, it is released at large rates. Specifically, “Characterization and leachability of electric arc furnace dust made from remelting of stainless steel,” writes, “A large quantity (10–20 kg) of electric arc furnace dust (EAFD) is generated per tonne of steel produced and around 700,000 and 50,000 tonnes of EAFD are generated each year in the United States and Canada, respectively” (Laforest 156). Dust is a fine particle that makes it easily breathable when exposed to humans. The human body can only protect against these particles for a limited period of time and with constant exposure, the body's capacity to defend are weakened. Inhaling dust can even be worse for people with breathing deficiencies like asthma, which can aggravate their health conditions. Just like how air lingers in the environment, so do other forms of waste that are produced during manufacture.

Processing stainless steel for straws can have a variety of impacts on the environment, including air and water emissions. The article, “Co-benefits of energy efficiency improvement and air pollution abatement in the Chinese iron and steel industry” mentions, “In 2010, China was responsible for 45% of global steel production, while consuming 15.8 EJ of final energy and emitting 1344 Mt CO2eq, 8.4 Mt of PM (particulate matter) emissions, and 5.3 Mt of SO2emissions.” (Zhang 333). Steel mills consume mass amounts of energy and when burning all these fossil fuels to power this technology, greenhouse gases are involved. These byproducts are known contributors to climate change, which not only ruin air quality but also change how people live, their capacity to survive, and their dependency on power. According to the case study, “Life cycle inventory processes of the integrated steel plant (ISP) in Krakow, Poland”, coke, “...produced by the destructive distillation of coal in coke ovens, is used in...steel industry processes (primarily in blast furnaces) to reduce iron ore to iron”(Beida 1089-1090). This poses a problem because of the air emissions that come along with it as stated in, “Spatiotemporal association between birth outcomes and coke production and steel making facilities in Alabama, USA”, “Coke and steel production facility air emissions include a mixture of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)...toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes (BTEX), and metals, all of which have been independently associated with adverse birth ...with increased cancer incidence, decreased lung function, and decreased sperm quality” (Porter 2). Not only is the problem limited to the environment, but it also pertains to human health as people inhale the polluted air. It is also important to note that urban areas can be more directly impacted by this as these steel plants tend to be closer to those regions. Unfortunately, water is also contaminated by coke during the cooling step, which, “generates a huge amount of various industrial wastewaters containing toxic organic and/or inorganic compounds. Among them, coke wastewater is considered to be the most toxic one; therefore, it must be thoroughly treated…” (Beida 1091).Water pollution is a major problem since it is intricately integrated into our daily lives. The lack of a clean water supply threatens one of the main sources of survival, and without it, the chances to sustain life are jeopardized.  

Today’s world is heavily reliant on consumerism which increases the demand for products and the emissions that follow. On SukeAuto’s website, they export their straws to, “ ...UK, Mexico, New Zealand, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Africa and EU, for example, France, Germany, Spain and Poland” (SukeAuto 1). As they expand their outreach and buyer demographics, the need for shipping is expected to incline. With more customers, there are more products to supply at an international level. This also means more modes of transportation like overseas and via air. This is highlighted in the article, “Climate Change, Presidential Power, and Leadership: We Can't Wait,” which writes, “The United States, China, Russia, India, and Japan currently have a higher percentage of the world's total C02 emissions than the global shipping industry...Mid-range emissions scenarios indicate that these emissions could grow, in the absence of policies, by 200 to 300% by 2050 as a result of the growth in world trade” (Wold 340). Just as stated in the manufacturing process, shipping is a major contribution to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change through the release of, “CH 4, NOx, and HFCs... as well as black carbon and ozone precursor gases such as carbon monoxide and non-methane VOCs” (Wold 340). With population growth and consumer behavior, it becomes more difficult to control pollution activity. The world’s demands for products such as SukeAuto’s straws are outmatching the world’s environmental needs and will eventually cost the depletion of resources. It is an even greater cost to undo these damages, specifically when managing the byproducts of stainless steel.

Disposal methods to control slag and waste are non sustainable and further intensify the environmental burdens they bring. Referring back to the Laforest article, she writes, “The cost of EAFD disposal is not negligible. For example, 200 million dollars per year are necessary to dispose EAFD in the United States” (Laforest 156). EAFD stands for electric arc furnace dust, which has both financial and environmental costs. Since it is considered a hazardous waste, it must be controlled with a precise skill that requires costly equipment and technique. As mentioned previously, they’re fine particulates, making them harder to separate from the air it contaminates. In, “Size-resolved dust and aerosol contaminants associated with copper and lead smelting emissions: Implications for emission management and human health”, slag is, “dumped in open waste stockpiles. A bag house is used to capture the converter's secondary particulates. Final refining occurs off-site and emissions from the smelter are released through a 330-m tall stack” (Csavina 751). This filtration method requires lots of space and maintenance to clean dust residue. This cleaning mechanism means more technology, materials, and energy consumption as stated in “Baghouses and Filters”, “For any type of cleaning, enough energy must be imparted...In shaker cleaning, used with inside-to-outside gas flow, energy transfer is accomplished by suspending the bag from a motor-driven hook or framework that oscillates” (Turner 5). It’s contributing more to the problem than to a solution by using more energy to resolve a pre-existing energy crisis. Another disposal method is through landfill which have long-term effects as written in Heavy Metals in Waste, “Large parts of cities today are build on old waste dumps. The landfill will after some time become a part of the environment - a highly contaminated part of the environment...Probably these highly contaminated parts of the environment will remain and slowly be absorbed into the surroundings until major geological events occur.” (COWI A/S 53). Natural resources are no longer clean nor accessible. Waste does not naturally decompose with the earth’s materials. Even if they were filtered out, the technology to do so must be considered which has a financial burden and burns more fossil fuels. It feeds into the cycle of pollution and counteracts the solutions attempted to be found. With that said, SukeAuto’s straws also have environmental benefits that reduce the environmental impact of stainless steel.

SukeAuto’s straws are ordered with brush cleaners to wash the straws for reuse. On their website, they claim, “SUKEAUTO is known for keeping an ever-present eye on the ever-changing Eco-friendly, environmental protection Industry. We are the straw brush cleaner supplier with wholesale price to our customer, an almighty enterprise” (SukeAuto 1). The straws are sustainable to some degree because of its reusable features. As stated in, “Alloying Elements in Stainless Steel and Other Chromium-Containing Alloys”, stainless steel, “...contain sufficient chromium to make them corrosion-resistant, oxidation resistant and/ or heat resistant” (Cunat 1). The straw’s alloy properties allow it to be washed multiple times, making it less prone to rust. This can be beneficial since the product lasts longer and reduces the disposal of non-biodegradable materials like its predecessor, the plastic straw. However, this does not entirely classify it as a green product. The brush cleaner is also made up of stainless steel and as stated before, there are more pollutants released and more energy consumed to produce this accommodating product. In addition to chromium, stainless steel recycles scrap metals.

Stainless steel is primarily made up of recycled scrap metals leftover from construction. “Time-dependent material flow analysis of iron and steel in the UK Part 2. Scrap generation and recycling” includes a table that shows, “Globally around 85% of construction steel is currently recovered from demolition” (Davis 134). Despite the harmful effects of producing stainless steel, there is some degree of sustainability supported in its design. These materials are easily reprocessed when scraps are melted in a furnace. In regards to that, there is still room for improvement since melting processes release solid waste. Although SukeAuto claims to be an eco-friendly company, they can still be considered active contributors to the problem. They take destructive action by releasing pollutants with process technology and shipping demands. Yes, it is an alternative to plastic; however, the design of stainless steel is still flawed. 

There are pros and cons to consider when questioning the sustainability factor of SukeAuto Wholesale Stainless Steel Straws. Since SukeAuto straws require a demand for stainless steel, they are responsible for polluting land, air, and water resources at a large financial cost. These studies discuss the stainless steel industry as a whole and even though little direct information was to be found by SukeAuto, this data presumes the insufficiencies the company partakes in. It is also important to consider that the company might not have disclosed such information to uphold their “eco-friendly” mission statement, creating possible bias. These discussions will hopefully urge the need for sustainable reform within production practices that persist today.

Works Cited

Bieda, Boguslaw, et al. "Life cycle inventory processes of the integrated steel plant (ISP) in 

Krakow, Poland—coke production, a case study." The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment 20.8 (2015): 1089-1101.

Csavina, Janae, Mark P Taylor, Omar Félix, Kyle P Rine, A. Eduardo Sáez, and Eric A Betterton. 

"Size-resolved Dust and Aerosol Contaminants Associated with Copper and Lead Smelting Emissions: Implications for Emission Management and Human Health." Science of the Total Environment 493 (2014): 750-56. Web.

Cunat, Pierre-Jean. "Alloying elements in stainless steel and other chromium-containing alloys." 

ICDA, Paris (2004). https://www.bssa.org.uk/cms/File/Euro%20Inox%20Publications/Alloying%20Elements.pdf

Davis, J., R. Geyer, A. Ley, M. Kwan, T. He, Clift, Jackson, and Sansom. "Time-dependent 

Material Flow Analysis of Iron and Steel in the UK. Part 2. Scrap Generation and Recycling." Resources, Conservation and Recycling 51.1 (2007): 118-40. Web.

Gudim, Yu A., I. V. Fokin, and I. Yu Zinurov. "Ways of improving stainless steel production 

indices." Metallurgist 58.11-12 (2015): 1093-1097.

Laforest, Guylaine, and Josée Duchesne. "Characterization and Leachability of Electric Arc 

Furnace Dust Made from Remelting of Stainless Steel." Journal of Hazardous Materials 135.1 (2006): 156-64. Web.

Porter, Travis R., et al. "Spatiotemporal association between birth outcomes and coke production 

and steel making facilities in Alabama, USA: a cross-sectional study." Environmental Health 13.1 (2014): 85.

Turner, James H., et al. "Baghouses and Filters." Research Triangle Institute (1998).

Wold, Chris. "Climate Change, Presidential Power, and Leadership: We Can't Wait." Case 

Western Reserve Journal of International Law, vol. 45, no. 1 and 2, Fall 2012, p. 303-360. HeinOnline, https://heinonline.org/HOL/P?h=hein.journals/cwrint45&i=330.

Zhang, Shaohui, Ernst Worrell, Wina Crijns-Graus, Fabian Wagner, and Janusz Cofala. 

"Co-benefits of Energy Efficiency Improvement and Air Pollution Abatement in the Chinese Iron and Steel Industry." Energy 78 (2014): 333-45. Web.

Heavy Metals in Waste - European Commission. COWI A/S, Feb. 2002, 

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/studies/pdf/heavy_metalsreport.pdf.

“Wholesale Stainless Steel Straws Factory & Custom Manufacturer.” World's First ECO 

Products Wholesale Supply Chain Center, 13 Nov. 2019, https://sukeauto.com/stainless-steel-straws-factory/.