Energy Efficiency, GHG Emissions  -  January 12, 2022

Klöckner & Co Commits to Net Zero Emissions by 2040

Klockner announced a package of measures called Kockner Takes Action 2040 in order to meet its target of net zero emissions by 2040. These near-term targets were validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

“We take responsibility for our environment in order to safeguard the foundations of life for future generations,” said Guido Kerkhoff, CEO of Klöckner & Co SE in a statement. “As a first step in this direction, we will significantly reduce directly controllable greenhouse gas emissions at Klöckner & Co by 2030. Because we apply a holistic approach across the entire supply chain, we also plan significant reductions in the emissions that we do not cause directly.”

Klöckner & Co. set a goal of achieving a 50% reduction in its Scope 1 and 2 emissions and will focus on emissions generated in its own business, such as from shipping products to customers using company trucks or from consumption of purchased electricity. The company will also work toward more centralization of energy procurement and switching to renewable energy sources. In addition, Klöckner & Co has also already begun converting its car and truck fleet to using electric mobility and hydrogen. 

Klöckner & Co has reached one significant milestone in its goal of using more sustainable products and services. The company entered into a partnership with the Swedish start-up H2 Green Steel (H2GS) in order to secure access to carbon-emission-free steel. Under the partnership, up to 250,000 t of green steel is initially to be supplied from 2025. The steel is considered to be almost free of carbon emissions because production at H2GS reduces gross carbon emissions by more than 95% relative to conventional production. 

To address Scope 3, the company will reduce directly controllable emissions (such as from business travel) by 50% by 2030 and non-directly-controllable emissions (bought-in products and services) will be cut by 30% by 2030. 

Klöckner & Co also plans to reduce directly controllable emissions to net zero by 2040 (Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3 emissions under direct influence). In Scope 1 and 2 alone, this will enable the company to save some 90,000 tons of carbon in its own emissions per year. Emissions that it can only control indirectly, primarily from bought-in steel products are to be cut to net zero by 2050.