Eco-Friendly Stainless Steel

When Harry Brearly of Sheffield invented stainless steel, he wasn't thinking about hygiene or eco-friendly products. He invented it merely to improve the quality of gun barrels. Brearly had been asked to help reduce the amount of corrosion caused by corrode which hindered the efficiency of the guns.

Brearly's invention of a new alloy was initially referred to a "rustless steel" then was later changed to "stainless steel". The first stainless steel was produced in his electric furnace on August 13, 1913. In 1920, he was rewarded the Iron and Steel Institutes's Bessemer Gold Medal.

Just what is stainless steel? It is essentially a low carbon steel which contains chromium at 10% or more by weight. It is this addition of chromium that gives the steel its unique stainless, corrosion resisting properties.

Today many products are made with stainless steel and for good reason. It ages gracefully, has hygienic qualities and it is a green building material.

Stainless steel requires little maintenance and harsh cleaners do not need to be used to clean its surface, meaning fewer chemical being dumped down the drain, making this an eco-friendly product. It is the first choice for hospitals and most food processing plants because of its strict hygiene conditions.

Stainless steel is 100% recyclable. More than 50% of stainless steel products comes from old remelted stainless steel scrap.

It is years before products made from stainless steel require replacing, so when you consider the total life cost, it is in most cases less costly than many other products.

Aside from the obvious large kitchen appliances, consider choosing stainless steel for a healthier eco-friendly alternative to plastic such as pails for your garden, food containers, water bottles, kitchen cutlery, baby bottles and sippy cups.

Cookware made of stainless steel will last for decades and is not prone to rusting or chipping. It will remain new-looking for much longer than other cookware and can handle extreme temperatures, allowing it to be washed in the dishwasher.

Normally, olive oil, club soda and vinegar are all you will need for cleaning. Rub olive oil to remove streaks from stainless steel sinks, club soda to remove heat stains on stainless steel cutlery, and white vinegar to clean and polish all of your stainless steel appliances.

Stainless steel is attractive, timeless and safe, and its production process leaves a very low carbon footprint. It just makes sense.