BlueScope Steel Case Study: Environmental Sustainability and Practices

This case study analyzes the environmental challenges faced by BlueScope Steel, focusing on waste management, greenhouse gas emissions, and resource usage. The company addresses these issues through various strategies including water recycling, energy efficiency measures, and employee engagement in environmental committees. Key resources used are energy and water, with efforts to minimize their consumption. BlueScope measures resource usage through waste disposal data and implements waste reduction through filter cake drying, partnerships with waste service providers, recycling programs, and the establishment of environmental committees. The case study also provides practical tips for other companies, such as ACK, to improve their environmental practices by recycling cooling water, optimizing compressed air systems, and investing in heat recovery options. The provided references support the analysis with additional insights into the company's environmental initiatives.

Running head: BLUESCOPE STEEL 1
BlueScope Steel
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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

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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.

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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.