Bsh goes with its ambitious programs of decarbonizing its value chain. The company first sourced green steel from Salzgitter Flachstahl GmbH in September 2021, thereby reducing its CO2 footprint by more than 66%. Low CO2 steel is to be initially used for mounting brackets in washing machine production at BSH’s Lodz plant in Poland. This is another step on the way to achieving BSH’s ambitious sustainability goals. For Salzgitter AG, the production and market launch of green strip steel is an integral component of its decarbonization strategy.
Bsh’s development and manufacturing processes at its locations all over the world have been CO2 neutral since the end of 2020. «In comparison with 2018 – Bsh Chief Operations Officer Silke Maurer said – we want to shave 15% off our Scope 3 CO2 footprint generated by procuring raw materials and parts, as well as through household appliance usage. In a bid to achieve this, we have always offered our consumers particularly energy efficient products. We are now looking very carefully at areas where we have less of a direct impact, such as the production of raw materials and the recycling of products, for instance. Therefore I am absolutely delighted that we are now able to make decisive progress in decarbonizing the value chain together with Salzgitter AG».
Moreover, the recycling of raw materials and products is major lever for BSH in its endeavors to minimize waste and conserve resources. Consequently, the company is increasingly offering circular business models as well, which enable consumers to rent household appliances or share them. After utilization, the appliances are returned, recycled for reuse and, at the end of the product life cycle, recycled in an environmentally compatible manner. Steel, for example, is subsequently melted down in Salzgitter AG’s electric arc furnaces at its Peine location.
