CELSA Group reduces its CO2 emissions by 22% and places themselves 36.8% below the average for the steel sector in the EU. Consolidated as the largest circular supply chain in Europe
- By 2030, CELSA Group has set itself the goal of reducing CO2 emissions from scope 1 and 2 by 50%, as well as becoming a Net Positive company and completing its circularity by 2050.
- Thanks to its circular and low-emission steel fabrication system and in comparison to the blast furnace manufacturing system, the company avoids the extraction and consumption of 13.1 million m3 of natural resources every year, the equivalent of the volume of 12.5 buildings such as the Empire State Building and the emission of 12 million tons of CO2 into the atmosphere, the equivalent of 2.6 million cars running for a whole year without stopping.
- As the first recycler in Spain and second in Europe, in 2021 the company recycled more than 7 million tons of scrap to produce 6.6 million tons of long steel products and also recovered 73,000 tons of non-ferrous metals, 860 tons of plastics and more than 2.6 million tons of co-products, thus recovering 94% of the total waste generated during its production processes.
Barcelona, November 10th, 2022.- CELSA Group™, leading company in Europe in the manufacture of circular and low-emission steel, has reduced CO2 emissions (scope 1 and 2) from its production plants by 22% since it began its decarbonization plans in 2015 and placed them in 2021 at 263 kg of Co2/t of steel, 36.8% below the average for the European Union steel sector.
The company has published its 2021 sustainability report that includes CELSA GROUP’s strategy in this area, as well as its main indicators within the group.
As stated in the report, the company, which in 2021 produced 6.6 million tons of steel, avoided the extraction and consumption of 13.1 million m3 of natural resources, the equivalent of the volume of 12.5 buildings such as the Empire State Building. This is possible thanks to its circular production system, using scrap as raw material that is melted in electric arc furnaces, which release 9 times less CO2 into the atmosphere than the same production made with the blast furnace system.
Making the same comparison, in 2021, CELSA Group™ also avoided the consumption of 17 million m3 of water, comparable to the yearly consumption of a city of 350,000 inhabitants; and avoiding the consumption of 16,700 GWh/year of electricity, which is more than the yearly electricity consumption of Madrid and Barcelona together.
In terms of emissions, CELSA Group’s production system avoided the emission of 12 million tons of CO2 into the atmosphere in 2021, the equivalent of 2.6 million cars running for a whole year without stopping.
“CELSA Group’s steel is essential to complete the objectives of the European Green New Deal, as it is a crucial material to build most of the renewable energy facilities needed to meet these sustainability goals,” explains CELSA Group’s President and CEO Francesc Rubiralta in the report’s cover letter.
Objective: to be a Net Positive company in 2050
Since its beginnings, CELSA Group has been working to become part of the solution to the main systemic risks on the planet. On the one hand, contributing to the mitigation of both climate change and the depletion of natural resources through its commitment to low-emission production and its circularity, and on the other, committing to sustainability objectives in line with the European Union in terms of decarbonisation.
CELSA Group has set the time horizon of 2050 to be a Net Positive company and 2030 to achieve a reduction in CO2 emissions (scope 1 and 2) by 50% (compared to 2019 in CO2 intensity). Regarding its circularity objectives, CELSA Group aims to reach 98% circularity by 2030 and complete circularity and be a Zero Waste company in 2050.
As stated in the company’s Sustainability and Circularity report, the activity carried out by CELSA Group in its steel mills in Spain, France, Poland, and Norway would be part of the activities included in the European Union Taxonomy on climate change mitigation in the steel sector.
During fiscal year 2021, CELSA Group recycled more than 7 million tons of scrap to produce 6.6 million tons of long steel products. Moreover, the group recovered 73,000 tons of non-ferrous metals, 860 tons of plastics and recovered more than 2.6 million tons of co-products, recovering 94% of the total waste generated in production processes. These recycling and recovery rates make CELSA Group the first recycle leader in Spain and the second in Europe.
CELSA Group’s main circularity and sustainability indicators
- 96.5% of the final product is made of recycled steel
- All products manufactured by CELSA Group are recyclable
- 94% of the group’s total waste has been recovered
- By making steel from scrap instead of iron ore, it reduces water consumption by around 40%
Recycled scrap 7.01 Mt
Valorized co-products 2.6 Mt
Recovered non-ferrous metals 73,000 t
Recovered plastics 860 t
Water consumption 5.9 M3
Reused water (%) 19%
Energy consumption 7,257,745 MWh
CO2 emissions 263 kgCO2 eq/t steel produced
CO2 emissions Scope 1 785.311 t CO2 eq
CO2 emissions Scope 2 1.022.703 t CO2 eq
CO2 emissions Reduction (compared to 2015) 22%
2021 activity milestones
In 2021, the company, supported by a new strategic plan, has managed to capture significant growth in the steel sector, registering a record turnover of 5,283 million euros. In addition, the group contributed to the creation of 230 new direct jobs to reach a total of 11,929 professionals (own and subcontracted employees), partly thanks to the start-up of new facilities and the development of new products.
Among the milestones of 2021 is the start-up of new facilities aimed at diversifying its business activity, generating sustainable growth and greater value with better returns for the group.
Thus, the new Celsa France rolling mill stands out, which completed the installation in 2021 and began production in 2022, with a capacity of 0.55 million tons of rolled steel products per year and which generated around 140 new direct jobs and 420 indirect jobs, between France and Spain.
Also, the extension of the rolling mill of structural sections in the facilities of CELSA Barcelona in Castellbisbal, which allows the production of type H600 beams, one of the largest in the market that are required for large structures and large-scale civil works. With this installation, the company has become the only manufacturer of this product in Spain and one of the only five in Europe.
And finally, the start-up of the Global Steel Wire foundry workshop (Santander) with a state-of-the-art continuous casting team, in line with the strategy of providing high quality steel products and having the latest technological advances to improve quality and optimize production flexibility.
In terms of investment in innovation, CELSA Group invested 23.5 million euros in R+D to develop new technologies and cutting-edge projects with which to lead the decarbonization of the steel sector, complete the circular supply chain and digitize systems and equipment, to be more competitive and energy efficient.
About CELSA Group
CELSA Group is Europe’s leading producer of low-emission, circular steel, and Europe’s largest circular supply chain. It recycles ferrous scrap to produce steel in electric arc furnaces, using the most sustainable technology and the most environmentally and energy efficient.
The company is made up of 6 business groups and has 120 work centers, 7 steel mills, 10 rolling mills and 45 recycling plants, as well as transformation and distribution companies, which generate direct, indirect and induced employment for more than 70,000 professionals.
From the point of view of corporate responsibility, CELSA Group works to solve the greatest systemic risks on the planet: the depletion of resources and the fight against climate change. To this end, it advances in its complete circularity and aspires to be a Net Positive company in 2050.
More information contact:
Laura Sabaté
Phone num. +34 616 95 20 66
E-mail : l.sabate@romanrm.com
