The leading company in the production of concrete steel, Metalfer Steel Mill from Sremska Mitrovica gathered media representatives today to celebrate significant successes and present an innovative product – Metalfer® Green Steel.
For the company, this event represents the cornerstone of a new era in the field of metallurgy and their commitment to sustainability and the general raising of standards in this field in Serbia.
In the past five years, the company has invested over 28 million euros in projects within the Green Agenda, and this investment cycle for Metalfer was not only a financial investment, but an investment in the preservation of natural resources and the construction of a cleaner environment.
“Through Green Agenda projects, we try to actively contribute to global efforts towards sustainability. Innovations that reduce the ecological footprint, increase energy efficiency and enable responsible use of resources are of great importance to us.
We believe that our investments are not just business ventures, but responses to urgent environmental challenges. Metalfer advocates for the transformation of the industry towards sustainable business, where economic efficiency and environmental responsibility go hand in hand”, and everything is in accordance with the basic postulates of the circular economy, said Jelena Zakonović, Ph.D., CEO of Metalfer Steel Mill.
In addition to the “Cuvarkuć” trademark, which the company has proudly owned for years, their commitment to sustainability is now also reflected in the acquisition of the EPD certificate that applies to all their finished products, which testifies to the product’s compliance with international environmental standards, including the almost complete use of recycled materials and transparent traceability in accordance with environmental guidelines.
“Metalfer does not only produce steel – we shape a sustainable future. The acquisition of the EPD certificate is the result of our team’s commitment and it reflects, first of all, our aspiration to fully integrate environmental sustainability in all aspects of our business,” added Dr. Zakonović.
What makes the Metalfer company particularly proud is the introduction of their new product into the production program – Metalfer® Green Steel.
This steel is the result of a vision and aspiration to create a product that is fully in line with the principles of sustainability. It is the result of combining the latest technologies, using renewable energy sources, recycling waste, reducing gas emissions and many other innovative practices. Dr. Zakonović explained to us in detail why the steel produced in Metalfer can be considered Green:
Use of renewable energy sources: 100% of the electricity we use in our processes is obtained from renewable energy sources, which is confirmed by the certificate of the Electric Industry of Serbia.
Waste recycling: 100% of the raw material input to our technological process is scrap iron that would otherwise end up in landfills. Also, most of the by-products of our process become a usable product for other industries.
Efficient use of resources: Modern practices, based on the generation and analysis of data by AI technologies, which we use, enables our processes to be optimal and highly efficient, which contributes to a significant reduction in the need for energy necessary to run the process.
Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions: The technology of smelting scrap iron in an electric arc furnace (EAF) that we use releases three times less CO2 and other greenhouse gases than conventional methods of steel production.
Use of sustainable material: Scrap iron is our only source of raw materials. The steel we make, after its useful life, becomes a raw material again that will be completely transformed into a new, usable form.
Using a closed water system: With advanced reverse osmosis systems, in the new waste water treatment plant, we are fully able to return most of the already used process water, after treatment, back into the process.
Cleaner procedures and technologies: Rigorously and dedicatedly, we monitor all the impurities created in the process, we classify the necessary waste and hand it over to operators who are certified for its further treatment.
Participation in sustainable initiatives: In addition to active participation in local and state initiatives for environmental protection, we ourselves design and implement programs that will make our factory circle a nicer place to perform work tasks.
Education and training: Every employee in our company undergoes training in waste management and proper behavior with secondary raw materials. The My Eco Park initiative is a project for which we have set up dozens of points in the factory area where everyday municipal waste can be disposed of and sorted into different containers. From the money collected by selling that waste to certified operators – we buy smart benches, which we give away and install in the courtyards of high schools in our city.
Transparency and reporting: All our processes, as well as their impact on the environment, are regularly controlled and communicated through reports by state institutions accredited for these activities.
Through its projects and products, Metalfer shows that economic efficiency and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand, setting an example for other companies in the transition to a more sustainable business.
“We have just presented to you only a part of what makes our company special and why we are proud to talk about Metalfer® Green Steel. However, I would like to end with something even more important. Our focus is not only on the production of steel or the adoption of new technologies. We are here to we care about our people, our community and the future.That’s why we proudly highlight our slogan – ‘steel mind, caring heart’ – because every innovation, every investment and every effort comes from a heart that cares for our planet,” emphasized Dr. Jelena Zakonović, CEO of Metalfer Steel Mill.
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