Tata Steel Nederland has signed an agreement with Swedish metals company Boliden for the procurement of Low-Carbon Zinc, which is zinc with one of the smallest carbon footprints of any refined zinc in the world.
The deal covers a significant part of the steel manufacturer’s zinc needs and enables Tata Steel’s customers, such as car manufacturers, to make more sustainable choices by using steel products with a lower environmental impact.
“Our agreement with Boliden reduces our indirect CO2 emissions and marks a new step in our sustainability journey,” says Willem Vermeulen, chief procurement officer at Tata Steel Nederland. “We are committed to making our steel production more sustainable and not only want to meet the evolving needs of our customers – who are increasingly taking into account the environmental impact of the entire value chain – but also those of society at large. With the alignment of our strategies, we will increasingly consider the environmental performance of our suppliers in our decision-making.”
“We encourage our suppliers, our customers, and our customers’ customers to take part in the industry transition and share knowledge on how we can minimise emissions and carbon footprints. Our Green Transition Metals portfolio represents some of the most sustainable options on the market, and by using our Low-Carbon Zinc, Tata Steel shows the importance of reducing emissions at every step of the value chain,” adds Sven Hjelmstedt, director of sales at Boliden. “This collaboration illustrates how choosing currently available low-carbon materials can immediately reduce carbon footprint.”
Zinc is a crucial raw material for the production of galvanised steel. This type of steel is coated with a layer of zinc to protect it from rusting. The zinc acts as a protective barrier, making the steel more resistant to environmental conditions and extending its lifespan. Galvanised steel combines the strength and versatility of steel with the rust resistance of zinc. It is used in a wide range of industries – for example, in the manufacture of car bodies and other automotive parts, roof structures, solar panel frames and washing machines.
Tata Steel Nederland is committed to reducing its carbon emissions by 35–40% by 2030 and to becoming carbon-neutral by 2045. In the meantime, the company is not sitting idle, aiming to reduce its annual carbon emissions by 500 kilotonnes – equivalent to the annual emissions of more than 25,000 Dutch households – before the first green steel plants come on stream.
Apart from using virgin zinc from mines, Tata Steel also uses recycled zinc in its production. On top of the zinc acquired from Boliden, which will produce low levels of carbon emissions, using such circular zinc in combination with zinc from mines further adds to the environmental benefits.
Boliden’s Low-Carbon Zinc is mined in the company’s own mines, without using fossil energy. According to Boliden, the zinc supplied accounts for emissions amounting to less than 1 tonne of CO2 per tonne of zinc, compared to an industry average of 3.6 tonnes. This gives it one of the smallest carbon footprints of any refined zinc in the world.
