Episode 2: Reducing the footprint: from light-footed steel to climate neutrality

As a technology leader, Waelzholz is one of the pioneers in the industry on its path to transformation. This is the result of a consistent sustainability strategy that begins with traditional aspects such as energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources and extends to an innovative accounting model that enables the transparent and certified supply of CO2-reduced steel strip. In this sixth podcast episode, you can find out what measures Waelzholz has implemented in this area and how they are linked to the company's sustainability reporting. Host: Ute Neuhaus Guests: Dr Heino Buddenberg (Chairman of the Management Board of the Waelzholz Group) Baroudi Zelit (Managing Director of the Brazilian Waelzholz subsidiary Waelzholz-Brasmetal Laminação Ltda.)

The competitiveness of the German and European steel industry is at risk. The reasons for this are complex and range from high electricity and energy costs to growing competition from Asia and a sharp rise in labour and salary costs. The transformation towards climate neutrality is also very costly - but at the same time absolutely necessary. In our fifth podcast episode, we therefore get to the bottom of the question of whether political framework conditions help to strengthen the competitiveness of European steel companies during their transformation. Are the political measures and regulations taken, such as CBAM, achieving their desired goals? Or is the EU marginalising its own steel industry as a result? Host: Ute Neuhaus Guests: Frank Peter (Director of Agora Industrie, a think tank that deals with questions of transformation in industry) Dr Matthias Gierse (Waelzholz consultant and former Managing Director Sales and Purchasing of the Waelzholz Group)

When steel products have reached the end of their useful life, the material’s life is far from over – because steel can be recycled an unlimited number of times. In terms of the climate, the advantage is that the production of crude steel using scrap instead of iron ore significantly reduces carbon emissions. What initially sounds like a great solution for reducing emissions in the steel industry, however, quickly reaches its limits in terms of actual feasibility. In this episode of our sustainability podcast, you’ll learn about the possibilities that scrap offers and the limitations that restrict them. Host: Ute Neuhaus Guests: Sandrina Sieverdingbeck (general manager of DEUMU Deutsche Erz- und Metall-Union GmbH) Dr. Matthias Gierse (Waelzholz consultant and former Director Sales and Purchasing of the Waelzholz Group)

How much CO2 emissions do everyday products such as laundry machines and ovens produce during manufacture and operation? What matters here is low power consumption, but also the best possible carbon footprint of the materials used, such as steel. In this podcast episode, we talk about the importance of modern steel materials from Waelzholz for Miele as a leading manufacturer of household appliances in connection with CO2 reduction. Konstantin Eckert, Director Procurement Production Material at Miele & Cie. KG. Dr. Matthias Gierse, commercial managing director of C.D. Wälzholz GmbH & Co. KG Moderation: Ute Neuhaus

thyssenkrupp Steel is Germany's biggest steel producer, producing around 11 million metric tons of crude steel a year, and due to its energy-intensive manufacturing processes it has a significant impact on the product carbon footprint. In this podcast episode we highlight, among other things, the processes with which thyssenkrupp can already save CO2 emissions today, how crude steel production is to become climate-neutral by 2045, and how Waelzholz is supporting this transformation process with a view to the entire value chain. Dr. Marie Jaroni, Head of Decarbonization & Sustainability at thyssenkrupp Steel Dr. Heino Buddenberg, Chairman of the Management Board of C.D. Wälzholz GmbH & Co. KG Moderation: Ute Neuhaus

In order to significantly reduce carbon emissions from steel, we need to look at every level of the value chain. In this first episode of our podcast, you’ll learn how Waelzholz, as a technology leader in the cold rolling industry and an integral part of this value chain, is heading down the path to carbon neutrality and what role the system we’ve developed to precisely track and allocate the carbon emissions of each material version plays in this process. Dr. Heino Buddenberg, CEO of C.D. Wälzholz GmbH & Co. KG Dr. Matthias Gierse, Managing Director Sales and Procurement of C.D. Wälzholz GmbH & Co. KG Host: Ute Neuhaus