Our commitment for tomorrow

Sustainability is centrally embedded in our strategy and operations, and our guidelines emphasize our commitment to environmental protection, health, social responsibility, and ethical standards across our supply chain.

To align our sustainability strategy with stakeholder expectations, we conducted a materiality analysis. Sustainability topics are considered relevant if they either have significant impacts on our business success or if our economic activities have significant effects on the environment and society in relation to these topics. The materiality analysis was conducted in three steps:

1. Identification of potentially relevant sustainability topics (based on reporting standards, regulations, and competitor reports).
2. Stakeholder engagement (structured personal interviews with employees, customers, and suppliers).
3. Analysis of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) related risks and opportunities. In identifying sustainability topics, we took a holistic approach, considering all aspects of sustainability (economic, environmental, social, and governance).

We have identified the following topics

Based on the score of each topic in the two dimensions, we distinguish three clusters.

The German Sustainability Award (DNP) honors pioneering steps towards a sustainable future and is one of the most prestigious awards of its kind in Europe. Swiss Steel Group has won the German Sustainability Award in the category of metal industry, competing against strong contenders.

"We are overwhelmed and honored to have been chosen as the winner of the German Sustainability Award by the high-caliber jury. This is a sustainable proof of our ongoing commitment to decarbonization and our vision of an environmentally friendly future in the steel industry," said Frank Koch, CEO of Swiss Steel Group.

The 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that were adopted by the member states as part of the 2030 Agenda provide a framework for achieving prosperity for people and the planet through sustainable development. According to our relevance analysis and strategic focus, Swiss Steel Group focuses on six of these goals where we can make a valuable and meaningful contribution.

In order to achieve the targets set by our Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) commitment, we will further increase the share of renewable energy and aim to improve our energy efficiency. Our plant in Canada already use 100 % power from renewable sources. In Ugine and Emmenbrücke we feed excess heat into the district heating networks.

We employ around 10,000 people worldwide. Providing a safe working environment is our top priority. Each year we contribute to the education and training of young people by offering apprenticeships. At many locations we play an important role in the social integration and employment of immigrants. Our steel from recycled scrap contributes to sustainable growth without exploiting natural resources.

Steel is an integral part of modern and sustainable infrastructure. Our technical sales and research teams are developing innovative products that meet our customers’ requirements. Through investments, innovation and continuous improvement, we upgrade our technological capabilities and processes regarding economic and environmental performance.

Steel recycling is our core business. Using a 100 % electric arc furnace and scrap-based production route, we play a significant role in fostering a circular economy. We strive for the highest possible recycling content in our products and avoid the use of primary materials where feasible. We cooperate with our business partners to recover by-products and waste, e.g. slag and dust. 

Our CO2 footprint is significantly lower than the industry average and with our electric arc furnace based production route we are in a strong position for a decarbonized future. We are committed to setting ambitious SBTi decarbonization targets and tracking their implementation.

Partnerships are a prerequisite to achieve our sustainability targets. We have established green steel partnerships with our customers and we foster successful partnerships in scrap and waste management and with local communities. Our Research and Development (R&D) teams work together with renowned universities and participate in publicly funded research projects. Beyond that, we contribute to industry efforts toward pertinent, well-adapted standards by actively participating in working groups of associations.