Myrtha Pools is fast off the blocks with Outokumpu Circle Green®

Image by: Charles Flautare

At first glance, swimming pool structures may look like they’re just made of tiles or mosaics, but there’s much more to them. While stainless steel is commonly seen in ladders and handrails around a pool, it’s also used for architectural and structural components in swimming pool construction. 

Stainless steel is an ideal choice for swimming pools for many reasons. Its sleek, modern design improves any space with timeless appeal. Highly hygienic and easy to clean, it also offers great corrosion resistance, making it a durable, low-maintenance solution that stands the test of time.

But for Italian company Myrtha Pools, the use of stainless steel goes beyond aesthetics. The company is committed to making their swimming pools more sustainable, which is why they have turned to Outokumpu’s Circle Green stainless steel.

Sustainable steel – a third way alternative to reinforced concrete structures

Myrtha Pools made its first splash in the aquatics market in 1961 near Lake Garda in Italy. Since then, it has installed tens of thousands of pools in more than 70 countries worldwide. It has also built swimming pools for the Olympics, created restorative wellness pools, infinity pools and waterparks. The majority of world swimming records have been set in Myrtha pools.

The company’s success is based on Myrtha® Technology. This is a “third way” alternative to the traditional reinforced concrete structures and to prefabricated swimming pools, overcoming the limits of both solutions. The structure is realized with stainless steel modular panels with a PVC layer applied hot in the factory. Myrtha Pools has been using Outokumpu stainless steel to build these structures for over 10 years.

Using suitable stainless steels

In humid pool environments, where water ripples endlessly and chlorine lingers in the air, materials face relentless challenges. While stainless steel is known for its durability, it can succumb to stress corrosion cracking (SCC) under tensile stress and corrosive conditions, especially in chlorinated pools with warm temperatures. This can lead to costly and unsustainable repairs or replacements. 

But choosing the right stainless steel can mitigate these risks. That is why Myrtha Pools uses Outokumpu Core 441/4509 grade. This is a stabilized, nickel-free 18% chromium ferritic stainless steel that offers good corrosion resistance and high-temperature strength combined with good formability and weldability. 

Diving in with Circle Green

Right from its launch two years ago, Myrtha Pools has embraced Circle Green, the world’s first towards zero carbon stainless steel. It has the lowest carbon footprint in the industry — a reduction of up to 93% when compared to the industry average. This innovative approach aligns with Myrtha’ Pools’ goal of creating greener, longer-lasting pools.

Circle Green isn’t a new grade but a sustainable way of producing stainless steel, identical in properties to conventional stainless steels. Its production cuts emissions by sourcing low-emission alloying elements, maximizing recycled content, and using 100% low-carbon electricity for processes like the electric arc furnace (EAF).

A recent highlight for Myrtha Pools was using Circle Green for the Paris 2024 Olympic pools, a milestone in sustainable aquatic design. This feat supported both Myrtha’s green strategy, which includes responsible consumption and production, and the Games’ ambitious goals to cut carbon emissions and create sustainable infrastructure.

Image by: Charles Flauture

Improving sustainable practices one pool at a time

By incorporating low-impact, high-performance materials like Circle Green into its designs, Myrtha Pools continues to innovate while advancing key environmental goals: reducing emissions, conserving resources, and ensuring long-term durability in every project.
With Circle Green as a foundation,  Myrtha Pools intend to create a future where performance and sustainability thrive together. By building durable, sustainable facilities, Myrtha Pools  can address today’s needs while safeguarding the planet for future generations – one pool at a time.