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Steel space-frame
developed to reduce
costs and shell weight
6. Environmental Protection
The Position of Steel in the Resources and Climate Debate
Environmental protection forms an integral part of Salzgitter AG’s corporate responsibility and is one
of management’s central responsibilities geared towards sustainability.
The concepts of resource and energy efficiency continue to play a central role in the public debate.
Hardly a day goes by without discussions on environmental protection: whether it be cutting
emissions limits as part of CO2 trading, the outdated attitudes of the automotive industry or banning
electric lightbulbs. The steel industry is in the middle of an irreversible process of discussion and development.
The debate ranges from the CO2 emitted by our production processes to the particular attention
that needs to be paid to the contribution our steel products make to boosting our customers’
energy efficiency.
With a share of 75%, input materials such as ore, scrap, reduction agents and energy play a critical
role in the cost base of steel production in Germany. Of necessity, this alone gives rise to long-term
economic pressure on production at all levels of the company to ensure that resources are conserved
to the greatest possible extent. But does it also mean that simply because we have achieved many
successes in terms of implementing processes that boost resource and energy efficiency we have done
all we can? Our answer is no. For us, this question also constitutes a challenge to innovate. Our ongoing
success in developing innovative materials for the automotive area is just one example of how we have
responded to this challenge.