MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY IN-DEPTH COVERAGE OF THE FASTENER MANUFACTURING PROCESS STEEL + ALLOY WIRE ROD BAR FEATURE
voestalpine awarded certificate for sustainable steel production Accepting social and environmental responsibility is an integral part of the corporate culture at voestalpine. The Group’s Linz-based Steel Division is now one of the first steel companies worldwide to have been officially certified as a sustainable production site by the non-profit organisation Responsible Steel.
T
he pre-condition for certification was to fulfill 200 criteria, which included the responsible procurement of raw materials, reducing CO 2 emissions, and the management of labour and human rights. voestalpine implements sustainability measures throughout the Group on an ongoing basis and is regarded as an industry benchmark for environmental protection. “Our corporate strategy prioritises corporate responsibility. We have been living up to our ecological and social responsibility for many years. greentec steel is our ambitious phased plan to reduce CO2 emissions in steel production,” explains Herbert Eibensteiner, CEO of voestalpine AG. voestalpine explains that using a hybrid technology and electric arc furnaces would allow CO 2 emissions to be reduced by around 30% in a first step to 2030. Over the long-term, the goal is to successively increase the share of green hydrogen used in steel production, arriving at carbon neutral steel by 2050. Responsible Steel is the first global certification initiative for sustainability in the steel industry. Certification required the entire location to be subjected to detailed examination by a third party, with the decision made by the independent certification body LRQA. “The certificate we were awarded proves that voestalpine meets strictly defined sustainability standards. This is at the same time an important signal for our customers who are also placing increasing importance on suppliers for whom sustainability is a priority,” says Hubert Zajicek, member of the management board of voestalpine and head of the Steel Division.
Condat receives EcoVadis ‘Platinum’ medal Condat, an international specialist in industrial lubricants, has obtained the ‘Platinum’ level recognition on the EcoVadis Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) platform. nitiated several decades ago, Condat’s responsible commitment is based on one of the Group’s core values – build to last. Guided by this historical value, the company has been pursuing a long-term strategy since 1854 that contributes greatly to its longevity. Condat is thus one of the precursors of the development of industrial lubricants with reduced environmental impact and, launched more than 20 years ago, its first biodegradable lubricants. Anchored in strong human values, the family group is structured around an assertive social policy. In 2018, Condat went further in its CSR approach by joining the international EcoVadis platform. Its CSR performance is evaluated each year by an independent body according to 21 criteria divided into 4 themes: Environment, HR and Human Rights, Business Ethics and Responsible Purchasing. These CSR assessments are based on authentic evidence and are internationally recognised. Initially silver, Condat progressed until obtaining in October 2021 the ‘Platinum’ level, the highest distinction awarded by EcoVadis. The company’s objective is to reduce its ecological footprint and guide its organisation towards sustainable value creation that takes into account social and environmental issues. It integrates, among other things, the Sustainable Development Goals at each stage of the life of its products, as evidenced by its unique system of self-evaluation of its eco-designed offer: the Lubriscore®. The Platinum medal was awarded by EcoVadis to all the subsidiaries of the Condat Group.
I
126 FASTENER + FIXING MAGAZINE ≡ ISSUE 133: JANUARY 2022