How we live sustainability

As a driver of innovation in the development and production of special steels, sustainable production processes and the responsible use of resources have been an integral part of our corporate philosophy for decades.

Nachhaltigkeit / Sustainability

The corporate philosophy

At voestalpine BÖHLER Edelstahl, the economical use of resources, raw materials and energy and the minimisation of environmental impact are at the heart of the entire production chain.
Since 1870 we have lived social responsibility, exemplified by the Böhler brothers, and are committed to dealing consciously with the diversity and potential of our employees, society and other organisations. Our integrated management system for occupational safety, energy efficiency, health protection, quality and environmental protection provides crucial support for the implementation of our sustainability strategy.

Our future strategies

Circular Economy

Closing material cycles is at the centre of our scrap-based stainless steel production. That is why we are striving to reduce the need for primary materials by replacing a large proportion with scrap. We are constantly looking for ways to recycle by-products, minimise waste and use resources efficiently.

Climate Impact

Protecting our climate by focussing on environmentally friendly energy and energy efficiency solutions and using the latest technologies is a key area of action in our sustainability efforts. We are currently implementing a decarbonisation pathway, whereby the reduction of our greenhouse gas emissions has top priority.

Sustainable Sourcing

As an international company, we are aware of our major ecological and social impact, both in our upstream and downstream supply chains. Responsible treatment of people and the environment, transparency in the procurement of raw materials and the reduction of Scope 3 emissions through the integration of social, ethical and ecological factors are the focus of our sustainable procurement.

Social Impact

Social responsibility has been exemplified at BÖHLER since the Böhler brothers founded the company in 1870 and has been understood as a mission for all future generations. We take our commitment to our society, the diversity, performance and potential of our employees and other interest groups seriously and deal with them consciously.

The new special steel plant

The new special steel plant in Kapfenberg is setting new standards in terms of environmental protection: the heart of the plant – an electric arc furnace that melts high-purity scrap in combination with various alloy metals to produce stainless steels – is powered by 100% green electricity. In addition, an efficient recovery system ensures that the heat generated is fed into the public district heating network. As far as cooling the production facilities is concerned, the amount of cooling water required can be reduced by up to 90 percent thanks to closed circuits.

Everything for more sustainability

    Wasser / water
    voestalpine BÖHLER Edelstahl
    Our company uses its own waterworks for sustainable energy.
    Solarpanele / Solar panels
    voestalpine BÖHLER Edelstahl
    Our photovoltaic systems supply green solar power from the hall roofs.
    E-Mobility-E-Mobilitaet
    voestalpine BÖHLER Edelstahl
    Switching to e-mobility for company vehicles protects the environment.
    Luftabsaugung und Filterung / air extraction and filtration /
    voestalpine BÖHLER Edelstahl
    Around 4 million cubic metres of air are extracted and filtered every hour to remove dust from the production exhaust air.
    Wärmerückgewinnung für Fernwärme der Stadt / Heat recovery for district heating for the city
    voestalpine BÖHLER Edelstahl
    Our efficient recovery system feeds the heat generated into the public district heating network.
    Sustainability / Nachhaltigkeit 7
    voestalpine BÖHLER Edelstahl
    voestalpine BÖHLER Edelstahl obtains electricity from regional wind farms.
    Sustainability / Nachhaltigkeit 6
    voestalpine BÖHLER Edelstahl
    The entire voestalpine BÖHLER Edelstahl site is powered by 100% CO2-free green electricity.

Conservation of resources at voestalpine BÖHLER Edelstahl

We attach great importance to reuse and recycling by collecting and utilising production waste according to type. We focus on the responsible use of resources – this includes separate waste collection, economical water consumption, high-performance air filtration systems, efficient energy utilisation and the conscious use of working materials.

    Sustainability / Nachhaltigkeit
    voestalpine BÖHLER Edelstahl
    Our special steel is 100% recyclable and makes a sustainable contribution to environmental protection and resource conservation.
    Sustainability / Nachhaltigkeit
    voestalpine BÖHLER Edelstahl
    Around 80 per cent of all steel ever produced worldwide is still in use today. This makes special steel a pioneer in terms of sustainability.
    Sustainability / Nachhaltigkeit
    voestalpine BÖHLER Edelstahl
    Our products can be made from up to 99% recycled scrap.
Klimaschutzdiagramm / Climate protection diagram

Climate protection

Based on the starting point of 2019, we aim to reduce our CO₂ emissions by 50% in Scope 1 & 2 by 2030 and become CO₂-neutral by 2050. In doing so, we are increasingly focussing on recycling, alternatives to natural gas, increasing energy efficiency and promoting the generation of green energy locally.

Our sustainability brochure

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