Gondola Railcars Built from Recycled Steel
The internationally active Greenbrier Companies, Inc. has announced the completion of 50 gondola railcars built as part of a pioneering circular economy collaboration with SSAB Americas and Alter Trading Corporation.
“The effort demonstrates how lower-emissions steel, innovative railcar design, and closed-loop recycling can work together to reduce environmental impact while supporting industrial supply chains,” the USA-based company emphasized. The railcars were manufactured using SSAB Zero steel, produced from recycled steel using fossil-free electricity and designed to achieve near-zero fossil carbon emissions. Greenbrier incorporated the material into railcars, adding high-strength steel to reduce overall car weight while maintaining structural integrity and enhancing durability. “The lighter-weight design increases payload capacity, improves transportation efficiency, and helps reduce lifecycle emissions,” the company informed. The railcars would be delivered to Alter, “where they will begin service transporting recycled metals, including end-of-life steel, to SSAB’s steelmaking facility in Iowa. There, the material will be melted and transformed into new steel products, creating a continuous recycling loop that keeps valuable materials in use and reduces reliance on virgin raw materials.”
(Published in GLOBAL RECYCLING Magazine 3/2026, Page 12)
