Climate change is one of the most urgent challenges the world is facing today. That is why Outokumpu is working constantly to reduce emissions and to provide solutions for a sustainable future. Transportation, especially buses and coaches is one area where stainless steel can have a very significant impact in helping to achieve carbon neutral mobility.
Carbon neutral mobility must be founded on a circular economy. This is where stainless steel offers a major benefit. It is a sustainable, durable and long-lasting material that can facilitate the development of CO2-free transportation solutions. It also infinitely recyclable at the end of the product lifetime.
By fully exploiting the durability of stainless steel, the product lifetime before it needs recycling can be extended significantly. Or it might never need recycling. As an example of the possibilities for buses and coaches, the life of their frame and skin construction, currently just under 12 years, might be extended by around five times using stainless steel - to 55-60 years.
Stainless steel can also offer interesting possibilities for designers to create innovative lightweight structures for buses and coaches. The benefits include:
- Compensating the weight of additional safety and comfort equipment
- Increased payload and/or more passenger carrying capacity
- Improved energy efficiency and lower emissions
- Capability to use a larger battery for increased range
- Reduced production costs
Setting a new standard for sustainability
Carbon neutral mobility is based on the use of sustainable materials. Sustainability is at the heart of Outokumpu’s business and integrated in our strategy. Our sustainability strategy consists of three pillars which cover environment, society & people and governance (ESG). We have set ambitious targets and are continuously looking for ways to further improve our operations. Our approach reflects both the importance of sustainability and the possibilities it offers.
Currently, Outokumpu has a carbon footprint less than 30% of global industry based on three aspects: Industry leading recycled material content greater than 90%; low ferrochrome content that is 42% of the industry average; high usage of carbon neutral energy, with 76% of our energy produced from renewable resources.
Our ongoing commitment to achieving the Business Ambition for 1.5°C has seen the carbon emissions for our production reduced from 2 tonnes of CO2 per tonne of stainless steel in 2014 to a current value of 1.7. That is already 70% of the global average and we aim to decrease it by a further 30% by 2030.
Outokumpu’s commitment to a roadmap for carbon neutrality by 2050 has been recognized by a number of independent global awards. Most recently, we received the highest Platinum level recognition for the second year in a row from the sustainability rating platform EcoVadis. The Platinum level rating indicates that Outokumpu is among the top 1% of the over 85,000 companies evaluated.
Stainless steel is set to play a crucial role in the global transition to carbon neutral mobility. It will be a key enabler for our customers and their own end-users.