Steel for a climate-neutral future
The protection of the environment and the climate, the conservation of natural resources and the economical use of energy are key issues at Salzgitter AG. For us, climate and environmental protection does not end with compliance with legal regulations, but is a key factor in our corporate activities - today and in the future. This is why we are playing a pioneering role in the decarbonization of the steel industry with the SALCOS® project, which is unique in Europe.
Salzgitter AG is one of Europe's leading steel and technology groups. We operate our integrated steelworks in Salzgitter almost energy self-sufficiently and close material cycles by reusing residual materials and by-products. We are now working very close to the limits of natural science and process technology, making us one of the world's most efficient steel manufacturers.
Nevertheless, production at our steelworks in Salzgitter generates around eight million tons of CO2 every year, which is unavoidable given the technical conditions and the equipment available. In order to reduce our CO2 emissions and drive forward climate-neutral steel production, we want to test new approaches and use innovative process technologies.
Sustainability is becoming an important purchasing criterion for many customers.
Companies and consumers are increasingly striving to make environmentally friendly purchasing decisions. The PCF enables them to understand the environmental footprint of their products and to choose more sustainable alternatives. Only a clear PCF helps to communicate environmental impacts transparently and create a sustainable and transparent supply chain. They can make informed decisions if they have the opportunity to compare product emissions.
In some sectors, companies are even required by law to report and reduce their emissions. The PCF is an important tool for meeting these requirements.
Overall, the PCF helps to quantify the environmental impact of products and pave the way to a more sustainable future.
We are proud to present our PCF calculation tool, developed in-house and verified by TÜV SÜD. It calculates the individual Product Carbon Footprint for almost every one of our products. This includes the CO2 emissions from raw material extraction to your factory gate (cradle to customer entry gate).
We offer you steel from CO2-reduced production. In our e-SHOP you will find our current range, which we are continuously expanding for you. Our steel is produced using innovative CO2-reduced processes that aim to significantly reduce carbon emissions. We have some of the products in stock for you and can also offer other products from factory production. Please contact us with your individual inquiries.
Under the project name SALCOS® (Salzgitter Low CO2 Steelmaking), we are working with our partners on the question of how we can use hydrogen to produce almost climate-neutral steel.
The concept was developed together with partners in 2015. It comprises the individual steps for providing green steel. The components are
hydrogen production and the conversion of steel production from blast furnaces to direct reduction, initially based on natural gas and later on hydrogen. With a complete switch to direct reduction plants, hydrogen can completely replace the carbon previously required for steel production and thus reduce our CO2 emissions by over 95%. By setting ourselves the goal of avoiding CO2 directly (carbon direct avoidance strategy) rather than storing it or making it usable at great expense, our concept is sustainable and sets an example for the industry.
Climate protection
Large quantities of greenhouse gases are emitted during conventional steel production. This is why we are working hard to switch to a virtually CO2 -free steel production process on a globally unique scale.
-50 % emissions by 2030
In 2030, with the first step of our SALCOS® program, we want to have laid the foundation that will technically enable us to reduce our Scope 1 and Scope 2 CO2e emissions by 50 %. Our future Science Based Targets will provide operational proof that we are on the 1.5°C climate pathway and thus in compliance with the Paris Climate Agreement.
Circular economy and resource efficiency
Steel is durable and can be recycled almost indefinitely. Closed material cycles are therefore a central element of our Group strategy. By optimizing production processes, but also through new strategic partnerships, we are creating the conditions for the circular economy of tomorrow.
Expansion of scrap recycling
Expanding our market share in the market for recycled scrap metal is a key strategic objective of Salzgitter AG. Every tonne of scrap used reduces the amount of iron ore and other primary raw materials required in steel production.
Energy efficiency
The economical and efficient use of energy is a key lever for sustainable business at Salzgitter AG. To this end, we are continuously tapping into our energy-saving potential and benefiting from the technical innovation potential of our companies.
One hundred percent renewable
We are serious about green energy sources: by 2025, 50% of our Group's electricity requirements are to come from non-fossil sources, and this share is to be increased to 100% by 2030. In 2023, the share of renewable electricity in external electricity procurement was already increased to over 20%.