Over the years, strong investments in R&D, innovative thinking and a close collaboration with our customers have allowed us to continuously reinvent and upgrade our offering many times over. Always improving, our aim remains constant – to boost productivity, ensure safety, and secure sustainable processes that drive growth.

We aim to be leaders in a sustainable steel industry and strive to create steel products with the lowest possible environmental and climate impact, and we support the development of socially sustainable infrastructure. When analyzing the UN’s 17 Global Sustainable Development Goals, we identified goals closely linked to our own agenda and set goals, and where Ovako’ s contribution is most relevant.

We strive to use recycled raw material, fossil-free electricity and apply circular thinking in all we do. Now, driven by an ambition to make an even bigger difference for the world, we are taking this commitment to the next level. Based on our clear strategic roadmap, innovative technologies and available resources, we are well positioned to help further reducing climate impact for the benefit of all. 

 

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A good starting point

  • 97 % recycled steel
  • Fossil-free electricity sources
  • 80 % below global average of cradle-to-gate footprint for hot-rolled products.
  • 2 tonnes of CO2 below global average per 1 tonne of hot-rolled product, cradle to gate
  • 56 % reduction in relative CO2e emissions from already low baseline since 2015
  • The world first to heat steel prior to rolling with fossil-free hydrogen

The world first fossil-free hydrogen plant to heat steel prior to rolling was inaugurated at our site in Hofors, Septemeber 5, 2023. We are proud of this ambitious initiative and  forward achieving carbon neutrality across all Ovako’s operations with the concept to heat steel with fossil-free hydrogen, supported by several industrial partners as well as the Swedish Energy Agency. Our full-scale trials were successful, and we are convinced that the first full production installation will further prove the viability of the concept. Currently, through other initiatives, we have reduced our relative CO2e emissions by 56 % from our 2015 baseline and full implementation of hydrogen-fueled heating will enable us to further reduce our process emissions by a total of 80 % from our 2015 baseline – that is, an additional 50 % from their already low levels.

Our hydrogen investments to tackle climate change, complemented by several other actions, will be implemented just as quickly as they can be financed in order to achieve zero carbon emissions. 

Read more about our hydrogen plant to see one of the steps to lower our emissions.

Reducing climate impact

While we continue to achieve major milestones in carbon reductions, it is still our responsibility to take immediate action for the benefit of our customers and society. These are aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the Science Based Targets initiative (on the 1.5 °C target level) and support the UN-led Race to Zero Campaign.

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ENVIRONMENT

Climate

Ovako is the steel industry leader in minimization of carbon emissions, taking the entire supply chain into account. Our carbon footprint cradle to gate for a hot rolled bar is 80 % lower than the global average.

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ENVIRONMENT

Efficient Processes

Ovako’s production is based on steel scrap, making Ovako the biggest scrap recycler in the Nordics. Since steel can be recycled an infinite number of times without its properties deteriorating, Ovako can manufacture steel with a lower climate impact without compromising the quality.

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ENVIRONMENT

Climate-Smart Products

The demand for climate-smart products continues to increase. Ovako’s products give customers unique opportunities that provide better performance, lower production costs and improved climate profiles.

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ENVIRONMENT

Recyclability and Recycled Content

Ovako steel products can be 100 % recycled, which means it can be re-melted to produce material of the same quality an infinite amount of times.

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ENVIRONMENT

Use of Chemical Substances

Ovako has a proactive process for reviewing and assessing chemicals, and the main objective is that the use of chemicals in the production will not harm the environment or the health and safety of our employees and other persons as well as be in compliance with applicable European and national chemical legislation.

Ovako Sustainability Report 2023 (PDF)