Besides aiming to reduce emissions in its own production processes by recycling steel or undertaking measures to achieve greater energy efficiency, the company also sees possibilities for action by raising awareness regarding LCA throughout the entire product life cycle. The savings potential achieved through the use of steel is higher than the emissions resulting from steel production itself. Therefore, the availability of numerous highly developed steel qualities makes a major contribution to climate protection and the conservation of resources. Many examples from R&D activities can be found in the “Research and Development” chapter of this report.
voestalpine is critical of the central idea behind the European climate policy expressed in the “2050 Roadmaps,” namely pricing CO2 by way of emission certificates. The company’s viewpoint is that the climate goals cannot be achieved with the measures that are currently being recommended. Instead of intervening in existing emissions trading as a way to monitor and control the price of CO2, voestalpine recommends pursuing a political course that enables a technology-oriented climate policy for the material-producing industry after 2020.
Such a policy would regulate the industry as far as emissions are concerned by way of technology-based emission levels, support investments in and the development of technology, and spur the use of recyclable materials and recycling-friendly design.