thyssenkrupp achieves climate neutrality 20 years ahead of schedule

The main goal of sustainable development will be achieved by the company 20 years ahead of schedule. thyssenkrupp Materials Services reaffirms its own sustainability ambition and significantly expands its climate protection targets: the company will be climate neutral globally by 2030 - roughly 20 years earlier than originally anticipated. “With this decision, we take responsibility for fighting climate change and underscore our claim to industry leadership. Because as the largest plant-independent material trader and service provider in the Western world, we can influence more than 40 countries around the world, ”said Martin Stilger, Chairman of the Board of Materials Management.

When it comes to climate protection, the company focuses on the areas where you can improve your own resources: all direct emissions at more than 400 locations around the world and all of our own indirect emissions from energy consumption are reduced as much as possible. Thus, Materials Services will reduce CO 2 emissions from 2030.-Emissions of more than 100,000 tons per year. This corresponds to the consumption of a small German town with a population of about 12,500 and about 60 percent less than in the 2017/2018 financial year (187,220 tons). To achieve this goal, energy efficiency programs, a switch to green electricity, investments in photovoltaic systems and a switch to LED lighting are being used. As early as 2024, the Krefeld service center will become the first non-climate logistics department.

Emissions that cannot be avoided at the current level, as there are currently no appropriate technologies and the necessary infrastructure on the market, are offset by climate protection projects. This applies, for example, to parts of the company's own vehicle fleet or to special machines and vehicles in the service sector of steel mills in Germany. “It goes without saying that we will also be investing in the appropriate technologies for greater climate neutrality here as soon as they hit the market,” Stilger said.

Eco-friendly products and customer solutions further focus: the first CO 2-reduced steel is already available

In addition to its own goal of being climate neutral as an organization from 2030, the company also wants to support its customers in this challenge. Various levers are used here. On the one hand, ThyssenKrupp Materials Service will increasingly offer CO 2 -reductive products in the future: the first batches of CO 2reduced steel are already available to customers. On the other hand, the portfolio includes services that can help make customers' supply chains sustainable, such as solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions or recycle products. “Our customers are already becoming more and more concerned about sustainability. It's not just about green products, it's more about meeting all standards in the supply chain and optimizing them, ”explains Martin Stilger.

Digitization is key

The power of data and digitization are important to the implementation of measures as they provide transparency and therefore sustainable action throughout the supply chain. In the sense of “data cuts tons,” the use of goods and materials management can be significantly more efficient, customer supply chains are optimized and green effects are achieved: less waste in purchasing, scheduling, manufacturing, processing, transportation and logistics. ... For example, in the automotive industry, the company uses an artificial intelligence solution that helps minimize losses in the supply chain by preventing incorrect shipments, reducing inventory and storage costs, and reducing the number of shipments.

The sustainability statement follows a holistic approach

Sustainability is firmly anchored in the company's Materials as a Service strategy and follows a holistic approach that goes well beyond the green. In line with the globally renowned ESG criteria, the company also works on initiatives and projects that promote diversity and social responsibility and raise standards in the supply chain.