Ceratizit reveals corporate sustainability strategy

Ceratizit Group, headquartered in Mamer, Luxembourg, introduced its sustainability strategy at AMB – The International Exhibition for Metalworking 2022 in Stuttgart, Germany. At the event, the company also won the MM Award for its SilverLine milling cutter, produced from the company’s CT-GS20Y.

“Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time and requires the industry to rethink in many areas as well,” stated Thierry Wolter, executive board member, in the press conference. “For Ceratizit customers to also be able to produce more sustainably, we’ve set some aggressive targets for our own products and services. Our vision is to be the leader in sustainability in the hardmetal and cutting tool industry by 2025.”

To become truly sustainable throughout the company, Ceratizit plans to evaluate the entire value chain with regard to environmental, social and governance criteria (ESG), including company partner cooperation. In the first phase, the focus will be on those aspects that have the greatest leverage effect.

Reduction of the carbon footprint

Initially, the company plans to focus on three major levers to quickly and significantly reduce its carbon footprint:

1. Increase the use of secondary raw materials to over 95%. Compared to primary raw materials from ore, this process requires 70% less energy and reduces CO₂ emissions by 40%
2. Switch the power supply for all sites to green electricity from wind, solar and water power
3. Switch from ‘grey’ hydrogen (produced from natural gas by steam reforming) to ‘blue’ hydrogen, which is produced from water by electrolysis via green electricity

Milestones

The first milestone in the implementation of the new strategy is 2025, by which time Ceratizit hopes to be CO₂ neutral and have reduced actual emissions by 35% compared to 2020. The second stage, 2030, envisages a reduction of 60% compared to 2020 with the help of further measures.

The most ambitious goal, however, is the achievement of “net zero” by 2040 – a target expected by the Paris Climate Agreement for 2050.

“Reducing CO₂ emissions along the entire value chain by at least 75% by 2040 is, without question, a challenge,” added Wolter. “However, with a view to future generations, we see no alternative to this path and are pleased to also let our customers participate in this through products such as our GreenCarbide rods and our award-winning SilverLine milling cutter with sustainability formula as well as through a wide range of services.”

SilverLine

The SilverLine solid carbide milling cutter geometries are now produced from the carbide grade CT-GS20Y with an extremely low carbon footprint, thereby reducing Ceratizit’s carbon dioxide balance. It is also expected to provide an economic benefit to customers through a certified carbon footprint.

Known as a ‘green carbide’, CT-GS20Y consists of over 99% high-quality secondary raw materials. Additionally, Ceratizit offers a guarantee of low-carbon manufacturing by using low-emission production processes and energy sources, as well as short transport routes throughout the entire process chain.

At 2.6 kg CO₂/kg of green carbide, Ceratizit is said to have achieved the lowest ever carbon footprint for a premium carbide grade. When green carbide is used to produce the SilverLine milling cutter, 4.4 kg of CO₂/kg is emitted compared to 19.8 kg CO₂/kg for a conventionally produced SilverLine milling cutter. This equates to a CO₂ emission saving of 78%.

Further information on the sustainability strategy is available here.

www.ceratizit.com

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