MCB Group takes a lead in switching to green steels and has started commercializing CO2-low steels.
Taking care of our CO2 footprint has left the stage of theory and has become a practice tool in realizing our sustainability goals, says Johan Opdenacker, project manager at MCB Group’s Flat Carbon Steel department. As a project manager, Johan is involved in the realization of MCB’s first flat carbon green steel orders. Sustainability since long has been triggering his responsibility and interest.
Why does MCB aim at more sustainability in its supply chain ?
Johan: “MCB is known as a supply chain partner offering smart solutions for metal processing customers. We have a clear vision on how to improve sustainability in both our own processes and our supply chain.”
“Steel production is causing about 8 % of all worldwide CO2 emissions. National and international authorities are launching new legislation and rules. Initiatives on sustainability emerge at our suppliers and our customers.”
Can you tell me something more about your first green steel orders ?
Johan: “Bigger EU sectors e.g. automotive, white goods, cold re-rollers etc. are no longer at the EU mills doorsteps to buy today’s technical green steel solutions, they are already in.”
“For steel service centers such as MCB, the game is different, since we are serving a vast variety of industrial customers. Nevertheless, since green steel is generally expected to suffer from insufficient availability in the first decade to come, also for MCB it is a question of “first come, first served”.”
“One of the first green steel orders we booked was with our customer New Laser and More at Sankt-Vith in Belgium and its final customer BayWa Solar Systems in Germany. We agreed with Salzgitter Flachstahl for the supply of SALCOS hot dip galvanized steel. The steel is supplied with an effective CO2 emission of </= 0,81 TN CO2 per 1 TN steel instead of </= 2,40 TN CO2 per 1 TN steel. This means a reduction of 67 % and it is Veristeel-certified.”
“Another example is an order we booked in cooperation with our supplier Arcelor Mittal Europe for X-Carb GSC hot rolled weather resistant steel. The steel is supplied with a balanced emission of </= 0,12 TN CO2 per 1 TN steel instead of 2,12 TN CO2 per 1 TN steel. This means a balanced reduction of 95 % and it is DNV-certified. Weather resistant steel is preserving itself from continued rusting and therefore marked by embodied CO2 savings.”
What could be your next moves in sustainability within MCB ?
“I am currently working with one of our customers to set up a closed loop together with our steel supplier Salzgitter Flachstahl.”
“For sustainability reasons, our customer is interested in setting up a closed loop for the scrap resulting from its production process. Salzgitter Flachstahl is interested in recovering the high grade scrap for its electric arc furnace steel production.”
“This way we close the loop and create a complete circular process.”
What tools is MCB applying to get to its sustainability targets ?
“MCB has set its goals in scopes 1&2 (emissions resulting from transport, energy and internal logistics) and in scope 3 (not-MCB generated CO2 emissions).”
“Green steel as an alternative to classic steel products is a major tool to reach the scope 3 targets.”
“For scopes 1 & 2 we aim at reducing our CO2 footprint by 50 % in 2030 (compared to 2020). We apply multiple means/investments:
- 5000 solar panels have been installed, compensating for some 5.605.000 kWh/year (30 % of our year energy consumption) and further installation has been planned.
- All trucks are conform to Euro 6 standard and have been equipped with Trimble, a state of the art road planner, aiming at all trucks to become EV’s and/or H2V’s by 2040
- 75 % of all internal logistic vehicles are EV’s, aiming at 100 % by 2026
- Etc. etc.
“The biggest improvements however can be achieved in the scope 3 emissions. EU steel industry, by the Paris climate agreement, is working towards 2 CO2 reduction goals : 30 – 40 % reduction by 2030 and complete CO2 neutrality by 2050. The solution here is green steel.”
“MCB as a market leader and supply chain partner wishes to be a frontrunner both in innovative collaboration with our steel suppliers and in offering smart CO2 reduction solutions to our customers.”
Is the future of our industry green?
Johan: “I sincerely hope these first green steel orders may be the start of an energetic and inspiring era for MCB. EU steel is facing some huge challenges as to the necessary switch to green steel. We cannot cope with these challenges by using the same way of thinking we used when they emerged. So let’s change our way of thinking and acting, win the sustainability challenge and start making a better world by green steel supplies, one by one.”
Contact
Johan: “In case of further interest in our green steel options, I kindly invite our customers to get in contact with their MCB account manager. On their demand, I will be gladly of support to the realization of our customers’ green steel projects and steel-linked sustainability targets. People may also contact me directly via +31 (0) 6 208 536 99 or johan.opdenacker@mcb.nl.”