Back in 2024, we shared the story of how SOTTAS SA, a Swiss family business specialising in steel structures and high-tech metal cladding, selected ArcelorMittal’s XCarb® recycled and renewably produced heavy plate for the construction of the Passerelle des Cigarières in Yverdon-les-Bains. At the time, the project was just beginning, but it had already attracted attention as the first Swiss civil engineering structure to be built using low carbon-emissions steel.
Two years later, we are delighted to celebrate a new milestone in that journey.
On 27 August 2026, during steelday 2026, SOTTAS SA was awarded the Prix Acier 2026 (Swiss Steel Award) for the Cigarières footbridge, recognising the project’s successful combination of engineering expertise, architectural quality and sustainability.
XCarb® steel at the heart of the project
The bridge is now completed and opened to the public, creating a new pedestrian and cycling link across the Thièle River. What began as an ambitious concept has become a striking feature of the Yverdon-les-Bains landscape and a tangible example of how low carbon-emissions steel can be used in modern infrastructure.
The footbridge incorporates approximately 150 tonnes of XCarb® recycled and renewably produced steel from ArcelorMittal. Produced using 100% renewable electricity and minimum 95% of high-quality scrap, the steel helped support the project’s environmental objectives while meeting the demanding technical requirements of a major civil engineering structure. This choice also enabled a 66% reduction in CO₂ emissions per tonne of steel plate compared with conventional production.
For SOTTAS SA, the award recognises a project that helped push the boundaries of sustainable steel construction in Switzerland. Working alongside the City of Yverdon-les-Bains, architects Brauen Wälchli and engineers Perret Gentil SA, the company delivered a structure that combines technical performance with a strong connection to local heritage.
For ArcelorMittal, the award provides encouraging evidence that low carbon-emissions steel solutions are increasingly being chosen for high-profile infrastructure projects. What was once an innovative specification has now helped contribute to an award-winning project recognised at national level.
This project should serve as an inspiration for national and local authorities to prescribe the use of low carbon-emissions steel in future infrastructure projects by embedding decarbonisation objectives into public procurement decisions.
Celebrating local heritage
The Passerelle des Cigarières is more than a bridge. Its design pays tribute to the rich industrial heritage of Yverdon-les-Bains.
The bridge’s distinctive green finish references the iconic Hermès typewriters once manufactured in the city, while its name pays tribute to the women who worked in the historic Vautier cigar factory. Together, these elements create a structure that is both functional and deeply rooted in the history of Yverdon-les-Bains.
A shared achievement
From an ambitious low carbon-emissions steel project to an award-winning landmark, the Passerelle des Cigarières illustrates what can be achieved through close collaboration across the value chain. This distinction from the Swiss Steel Construction Centre (SZS) highlights the success of a project that combined engineering expertise, architectural vision and environmental ambition.
We warmly congratulate SOTTAS SA and all project partners on this well-deserved achievement and are proud that XCarb® recycled and renewably produced steel played a role in bringing this award-winning project to life.
Read our original article: "SOTTAS SA turns to XCarb® recycled and renewably produced for Cigarières bridge in Switzerland".
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...about XCarb® recycled and renewably produced
