BlueScope Steel: Environmental Impact & Practices

This assignment analyzes BlueScope Steel's environmental challenges, focusing on greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution, and water scarcity. It explores the company's resource utilization strategies, including energy and water conservation. Additionally, it examines how BlueScope implements waste reduction practices through initiatives like filter cake drying and environmental committees. Finally, the assignment discusses potential improvements for ACK (another company) based on BlueScope's successful strategies.

Running head: BLUESCOPE STEEL 1
BlueScope Steel
Student’s Name
Course
Date

BLUESCOPE STEEL 2
What are the key environmental issues faced by BlueScope Steel?
Over the years, BlueScope Steel's Western Port has faced environmental challenges in
terms of its waste management processes. The company is working hard to come up with
measures and provide details of its product information so as to determine its environmental
impact. Environmental issues faced by the company include greenhouse gas emissions, air
pollution, and drought. During the production process, different gases are released into the
air. These gases become pollutants to the environment as they destroy the ozone layer. These
gases when released may also affect human beings as they may lead to diseases such as
cancers and respiratory diseases. Certain environmental changes lead to drought which
greatly affects the company. The plant requires water in its production process. Thus such as
lack of water affect the daily production of the company's products.
What are the key resources used by the company?
The western port mostly uses two main resources in its production process of its
products. They are energy and water resources. The company has focused on various ways on
how to minimize the sage of these two key resources. The plant is focusing on recycling and
reusing of water resources which is an important item during the manufacturing process
(Hird, 2006). Water is used during the cooling process of the slab and machines and also used
during the mixing of the slab. Energy resources are also useful in the running of the company.
Electricity, for example, is used during the running of the machines, lighting of the
warehouses and control of certain resources in the company. BlueScope is ensuring that these
two resources are used effectively and focuses on saving these resources.
How can Blue Scope gain from better work practices?
BlueScope Steels has focused on engaging its employees by establishing
environmental committees which are site-based and focus on avoidance and reuse (Shi,
WANG & SHI, 2009). Engaging employees in the daily activities on how to reduce pollution

BLUESCOPE STEEL 3
and this has led to long-term environmental achievements (Barnes, Rizos, Kanli, Small,
Voigt, Gambale & Reid, 2004). Through such programs involving employees, there have
been increased savings in the business, the environment, and the broader community.
How do they measure and record current usage of resources?
The company uses the PIW, Prescribed Industrial Waste, going to landfill to measure
and record the current usage of resources. The company reports monthly on quantities of
manufacturing waste disposed to landfill.
How was Blue Scope able to implement waste reduction?
To implement on waste reduction, the company installed a filter cake drying part,
partnered with a waste service provider, glove and rag recycling, establishment of
environmental committees and implementation of ISO 14001. Environmental committees
such as EMS, Environmental Management System, have been set up. The filter cake is a
residue from the treatment of water used in steel processes (Morton, 1980).
Out of the hints and tips listed on the 2nd page of the case study, select 3 tips and explain
how they can be applied at ACK?
ACK can also employ certain tips used by BlueScope to achieve greatness. They
include reducing water used in the cooling process by recycling cooling water, shutting off
the flow of water when not in use, and instead of running mains water they can use fogging
nozzles. They can optimise their use of compressed air systems by fixing air leaks, insulation,
and optimising operating pressures. They can also invest heavily in research on heat recovery
options in industrial processes.

BLUESCOPE STEEL 4
References
Barnes, J., Rizos, C., Kanli, M., Small, D., Voigt, G., Gambale, N., ... & Reid, C. (2004,
June). Indoor industrial machine guidance using Locata: A pilot study at BlueScope
Steel. In 60th Annual Meeting of the US Inst. Of Navigation (pp. 533-540).
Hird, W. (2006). Recycled water—case study: BlueScope steel, Port Kembla
steelworks. Desalination, 188(1-3), 97-103.
Shi, G., WANG, Y., & SHI, Y. (2009). Behavior of high strength steel columns under axial
compression [J]. Journal of Building Structures, 2, 011.
Morton, V. R. (1980). U.S. Patent No. 4,186,535. Washington, DC: U.S. Patent and
Trademark Office.