First joint sustainability report published

Joint commitment to sustainability

In the report, the companies for the first time jointly formulate a commitment to sustainability and assume responsibility for future generations:

“We accept our responsibility to current and future generations of employees and stakeholders and we want to manufacture steel products in the most modern and sustainable way. We are committed to the Paris Climate Agreement and want to do our part for low-carbon steel production.”

Sustainability is also an important part of the current strategy process. The carbon strategy and its associated opportunities and risks are key points that are examined in order to develop further solutions. These include significant reduction of carbon emissions and compliance with environmental and social standards in the supply chain.

Steel as a material of the future

The material steel – the product of Dillinger and Saarstahl – fulfills the principle of sustainability better than virtually any other material. Steel is the most commonly used base material. Its use contributes significantly to environmental and climate protection and is fundamental to mitigating climate change. “Without steel there will be no mitigation of climate change,” said Tim Hartmann, Chairman of the Board of Management of Dillinger and Saarstahl. “Sustainable production of renewable energy from wind, water and the sun is inconceivable without steel. Dillinger and Saarstahl responded to these megatrends at a very early stage, producing precisely the steels required for climate change mitigation and mobility transition.”

Applications for steel from Saarstahl and Dillinger include onshore and offshore wind power, hydraulic steel construction, steels for advanced infrastructure projects and innovative steels that reduce weight and enhance efficiency in the automotive and photovoltaic industries.

Products made of steel are also more sustainable than those made with any other product. At the end of their useful lifetimes, they can be completely recycled as often as desired and then reintroduced into the economic cycle with virtually no waste or loss of quality. In addition, the production of steel in Germany meets high standards in terms of environmental and climate protection.

Making sustainability measurable: environmental protection and energy

The SHS Group sees environmentally friendly production and environmentally compatible products as preconditions for securing its long-term existence. Environmentally conscious behavior, conserving resources and avoiding burdens for the people in the region are therefore important parts of the corporate culture. This means active, farsighted and ecological management within the company as well as future-focused investments in environmental protection measures and projects.

Sustainability is more than just climate protection: Dillinger and Saarstahl implemented environmental investments amounting to EUR 70 million in the years 2018/2019. In addition to the construction of a EUR 14 million coke gas injection plant for high-hydrogen coke gas to reduce carbon, this also includes a new EUR 28 million dust removal system for the circular coolers at the sinter plant of ROGESA Roheisengesellschaft Saar mbH (ROGESA). In the area of energy, one key project is the establishment of ESTA (Energy Efficiency with Steel) as one of the “energy efficiency networks” of the German federal government. In addition to Saarstahl and Dillinger, the subsidiaries Saarschmiede GmbH Freiformschmiede, ROGESA and ZKS (Zentralkokerei Saar GmbH) also participate in ESTA.

The SHS Group is convinced that business objectives can only be achieved long term in line with economic and ecological interests and lead to measurable sustainability. Dillinger and Saarstahl are publishing the corresponding performance indicators in up-to-date fact sheets.

The Sustainability Report and the fact sheets are available for downloading from the Saarstahl and Dillinger websites.