Sustainability

lnclusion of (Taking up of) Salzgitter AG in the Lower Saxony Allicance for sustainability

 

In recent years, the issue of sustainability has become increasingly important. On the one hand, this concerns reporting obligations and customer enquiries and, on the other hand, surveys and assessments by rating agencies. In addition to key financial figures, information on enviromental and energy issues, social aspects as well as sustainable corporate management are now playing an increasingly important role.

 

In 2021 the Salzgitter AG received the „Wir sind dabei.“ label from the Lower Saxony Alliance for Sustainability (NAN).

The state government, trade associations, trade unions and chambers cooperate in the NAN with the aim of support sustainable development in companies and therefore strengthening Lower Saxony as a business location.

Companies can apply for inclusion in the alliance with carried out measures and projects they have implemented on the topic of sustainability.

 

For years the Salzgitter Group has stood for sustainable entrepreneurial action and pursues a clear strategic orientation to safeguard industrial production.

SALCOS (Salzgitter Low CO2 Steelmaking) the group´s innovation project also stands for this. It includes hydrogen production and the conversion of steel production from blast furnaces to direct reduction, initially based on natural gas but later on hydrogen. With a complete conversion to direct reduction plants, hydrogen can completely replace the carbon previously needed for steel production and reduce CO2 emissions by 95 % by 2045 at the latest. The aim here is not store CO2 or make it usable in a costly way, but to avoid it directly (carbon direct avoidance strategy).

 

SALCOS comprises various aspects that are seamlessly intertwined. For several years the group has been gathering important knowledge for the planned large-scale operation of SALCOS through various projects. With the WindH2 project, it is obtaining important experience in the production of green hydrogen on the basis of wind power, among other things. In GrInHy 2.0, Salzgitter AG is working on technologies for the efficient production of green hydrogen. With µDRAL, he initiates the conversion of the blast furnace route to direct reduction plants – and is ultimately able to drastically reduce CO2 emissions.

 

Besides to the SALCOS project, targeted measures were taken in the Group to increase energy efficiency and the subject of sustainability was addressed as part of the employee initiative „Creating value – avoiding waste“.

 

The lable „„Wir sind dabei.“ is initially awarded for five years and may be used by Salzgitter AG and the Group´s subsidiaries in Lower Saxony.