With an exaggerated demand for sustainable options in all sectors only set to steadily ramp up into the future, no industry is exempt from the changing business landscape. Even traditional heavy industry sectors, such as the steel sector, are being required to develop an agility or risk falling behind; Leading the industry into the new era of resource awareness is Outokumpu, setting the new standard for sustainable stainless steel production.

“We want to be seen as the pacesetter in our industry towards a sustainable world”, says Tamara Weinert, President of Business Area Americas. But this is a relatively new phenomena for the sector as the “steel industry as such has a huge role in the whole climate change, covering some 7% of the global CO2 emissions’ ‘ states Head of Sustainability, Juha Erkkilä. He continues to posit the company standpoint, “it is extremely important that the steel that is being produced is done with a small carbon footprint as simply as possible”, achieved through the pioneering the company exhibits through its processes. And it’s excelling in this regard, with a carbon footprint “approximately 70% lower than the industry average”, according to the sustainability head.

Having a 100% recyclable material, Outokumpu is breaking ground with its products. And with the company’s digitisation programme, it was able to achieve better material, resource and energy efficiency across all Outokumpu processes. Outokumpu is the only company in the stainless steel industry that has committed to one and a half degrees global warming. “We are the only company in the stainless steel industry that actually also reports so-called scope three emissions, giving one the full picture of emissions in the value chain”, confirms Tamara.

But maintaining a resource conscious strategy requires consistent awareness and innovation. CEO and President, Heikki Malinen, agrees: “It is important for us to look at all of our processes and work continuously to improve”. This present and forward-facing assessment demonstrates intention beyond merely a box-ticking exercise, that some companies may opt for, and concerns itself with a grounded and realistic viewpoint of what is required in reality. Outokumpu’s trailblazing towards a greener, more sustainable future is exactly the brand of leadership necessary to affect real change across all sectors it has contact with.

In order for real change to be affected, work done in coalescence to a common objective is the only feasible solution. Outokumpu actively works to engender partnerships that benefit not only themselves, but the planet at large. “We can ask our suppliers to comply also with the Science-Based Targets initiative and reduce their carbon emissions, enabling us to do our job” says the CEO. By working in tandem with others, the company displays the undeniable advantages of working closely with others. Without such an approach, it would not be realistic to expect to reach the targets set out of reaching the 1.5 degree Business Ambition limit that the company has agreed to meet.

Notwithstanding the environmentally focussed work already mentioned, comes the community and ecologically benefitting endeavours it brings to fruition. The company involves itself with Finnish technical universities, through research consortiums, to promote the transition of the metal industry towards a carbon neutral state. The very facilitation of the discussion spreads the ideas required to bring into existence a more resource conscious industry, that will gradually reach all corners of the sector. Once benefits are experienced by all, the usefulness of collaboration will be solidified more so by this industry leader. 

The responsibility of those able to affect change on a global scale, and even if only possible in a collective effort, is noted by Heikki Malinen: “I think everyone has a role to play. And corporations, of course, have a huge role to play”. Far from shirking from their own duty, Outokumpu constantly looks to the future to strategize a greener one for all. Already ahead of their targets, “we established a target that we would reduce our CO2 emissions by 20% until 2023, and at the end of 2020, we were almost at our target level”, states the head of sustainability. With no sign of resting on laurels, Outokumpu is pioneering the future of its industry and raising the bar for other companies that want to stay relevant.