Cronimet drives sustainability despite challenging markets

Metal recycler Cronimet has set out progress on a range of sustainability goals in a detailed annual report.

Cronimet, headquartered in Karlsruhe, Germany, is a global business specialising in recycling stainless steel scrap and ferroalloys. It has more than 1 800 employees worldwide, half of whom work in Europe.

Ceo Jürgen Pilarsky kicks off the report by noting the green transition of the economy is among the key drivers behind infrastructure investments in many parts of the world and stainless steel should be in high demand to support those efforts.

‘We are committed to seizing this opportunity and achieving long-term success as a leader and forward-thinker in the circular economy.’

Even so, the reality of a challenging economic outlook is clear when he reports lower profitability, although the outcome is seen as ‘satisfactory’.

‘Despite registering favourable sales during the first half, we experienced a downturn during the year’s second semester. Industrial and consumer activity stalled in Europe, where Cronimet concentrates around two-thirds of the operational footprint.’

Emission reductions

The sustainability report includes a range of targets, metrics and strategic approaches. For example, the company is looking to reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions 60% by 2034 (from a 2021 base year) and reduce absolute Scope 3 GHG emissions 35% by 2034 (from a 2023 base year).

Scope 1 and 2 emissions have been cut by 28.9% since 2021, although the company concedes a large share of the reduction results from the restructuring of a subsidiary in Armenia and is not permanent. Excluding these temporary effects, overall reductions amount to approximately 11.2%.

Scope 3 emissions have been cut by 11.4% since 2023, although again there is qualification. Because most Scope 3 emissions stem from the processing of its material by customers, reduction is primarily due to lower demand for tonnages.

Power switch

Cronimet says subsidiaries and yards are continuing to switch electricity contracts to non-fossil sources, thereby reducing emissions. At the end of 2024, 21 out of 62 yards and plants had made the change, raising the share of non-fossil electricity within overall consumption to at least 43%.

Since 2021, 17 solar plants have been operating at corporate locations. At the end of 2024, 24% of company cars were electric and electrification of mobile yard machinery continues with forklifts (33%), shunters (25%), excavators (5%) and loaders (3%).

The company is particularly proud of efforts to improve female representation in leadership positions, which reached 19% in 2024.

Meanwhile, a recycling subsidiary, Revomet at Bitterfeld-Wolfen in Germany, is planned to be a hub for processing battery materials with a planned capacity of 28 000 tonnes annually.

The first step of discharging batteries is already in operation while the recycling process is under development.