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Sustainable projects by employees for environmental protection

Sustainable projects by employees for environmental protection

We take a holistic approach to sustainability, seeing it as the symbiosis of a sustainable society, sustainable economy, and a healthy environment. Today’s voestalpine Group is an environmental pioneer and industry benchmark for environmental protection. This is the result of major corporate projects as well as numerous, individual initiatives undertaken by employees in a variety of Group companies.

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Environmental protection is a cornerstone of our corporate philosophy. We scrutinize our processes, optimize our supply chains, and create sustainable products and services. In addition to major projects such as greentec steel, Austria’s largest climate protection program, or the “inSPire” campaign brand (Sustainable performance inSPires – voestalpine) of the High Performance Metals (HPM) Division, our dedicated employees also make their personal contribution. They are proactive in choosing sustainable processes, which save CO2 in their own projects.

The following projects are a shining example of how our employees are helping to protect the environment. They should encourage colleagues in the 500 Group companies to make sustainable decisions within their own areas of responsibility. Every step taken helps toward maintaining a healthy environment.

Portrait photo of Robert B. in work clothes

Best practice: reducing CO2 emissions by two thirds in precision manufacturing

voestalpine BÖHLER Aerospace in Kapfenberg (Styria) manufactures high-quality drop forge parts in titanium alloys and high-alloy steels for the global aerospace industry. Constant climatic conditions with minimal tolerances are essential throughout the year for final machining, the finishing process.

As project head for investments, Robert B. is also responsible for implementing measures to achieve sustainability goals. In selecting the necessary air conditioning system for the production hall, he chose highly efficient Sustainable Hall Conditioning technology, eliminating 81% of the CO2 emissions produced by conventional systems. The integrated heating system also reuses the heat emitted by the processing machines for active heating. The overall impact is clearly felt in terms of the lower operating costs.

It makes absolute sense to employ innovative technologies in new plant and equipment, and when upgrading existing facilities. Our employees working in their permanent positions appreciate the comfortable temperatures and plentiful fresh air.

Robert B.

Best practice: reducing CO2 through carpooling and cycling

Patricia H. and Josef K. who work at voestalpine BÖHLER Profil in Bruckbach (Lower Austria) enjoy the many advantages offered by carpooling: they both reduce the amount they spend on fuel, appreciate the value of having time to talk during their commute, help reduce traffic congestion, and reduce their own personal carbon footprint. They drive the 14.5 km to work together two or three times a week. For the 4,000 km they drive each year, this saves around 400 kg of CO2 (according to Quaks.de: Link: https://www.quarks.de/umwelt/klimawandel/co2-rechner-fuer-auto-flugzeug-und-co/)

An employee of voestalpine gets into an electric car

Time flies when you’re in good company and the conversation is interesting. Not only that, but we also help road traffic, shortening everyone’s travel times.

Patricia H. und Josef K.

When the weather is warm enough, Josef K. is also happy to cycle the 11.3 km to the point where they meet and set off. “That means I’m using the time immediately before and after work to stay fit,” says a delighted Josef.

Best practice: recycled packaging

Stefan W. and Daniel D. work at voestalpine BÖHLER Edelstahl in Business Development for Additive Manufacturing Powder (AMPO). Together with the team, they manufacture high-quality powder made from tool steel, corrosion-resistant steel, and titanium, cobalt, and nickel-based alloys for use in additive manufacturing—more commonly known as 3D printing. Thanks to them, in future the AMPO will be packaged and delivered in recycled containers. The impact this has on making processes sustainable is also tangible:

Every recycled container represents a 27.5% reduction in CO2 emissions compared to the current single-use containers.

Daniel D.

Considering around 4,000 to 5,000 containers are used each year, this is an annual reduction of around 2 tons of CO2 emissions compared to the current process, which, in turn, is roughly equivalent to the CO2 emissions of a car traveling 20,000 km.

Our focus on sustainability

For decades, voestalpine has been the environmental and efficiency benchmark for the industry. We focus on sustainability out of conviction, not because it is the trend. We provide information on which sustainability criteria and standards we follow, on how we are continuously improving our carbon footprint, and about the innovative, sustainable products and solutions we develop for our customers in order to make the world a little better.

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voestalpine AG

Die voestalpine ist ein weltweit führender Stahl- und Technologiekonzern mit kombinierter Werkstoff- und Verarbeitungskompetenz. Die global tätige Unternehmensgruppe verfügt über rund 500 Konzerngesellschaften und -standorte in mehr als 50 Ländern auf allen fünf Kontinenten. Sie notiert seit 1995 an der Wiener Börse. Mit ihren Premium-Produkt- und Systemlösungen zählt sie zu den führenden Partnern der Automobil- und Hausgeräteindustrie sowie der Luftfahrt- und Öl- & Gasindustrie und ist darüber hinaus Weltmarktführer bei Bahninfrastruktursystemen, bei Werkzeugstahl und Spezialprofilen. Die voestalpine bekennt sich zu den globalen Klimazielen und verfolgt mit greentec steel einen klaren Plan zur Dekarbonisierung der Stahlproduktion.