ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe AG (Duisburg, Germany):

Meincke A., Mag. Eng., Manager Climate Change, CO₂, Special Tasks
Mohr L., Mag. Eng., Expert for product related environmental protection

E-mail (common): info.electricalsteel@thyssenkrupp.com

Thyssenkrupp Steel Europe company identifies its role in the industry not only in manufacturing steel products, but also in evaluation of the effect of its products on the environment. This paper describes such effect on carbon emissions in the automotive industry. Applying a life cycle point of view allows for objective and holistic evaluations of material concepts. The application for which a specific material is used has a strong influence on its performance and has to be considered in an environmental assessment. The presented results show that steel is an environmentally friendly material due to the emission savings possible in production and the use phase linked with lightweighting and outstanding recyclability. It is of utmost importance to consider the whole picture by taking the full life cycle into account; this is shown by the illustrative example of a B-pillar. Hot forming steel is a perfect example of how well thoughtout material choices and new innovative processing technologies can contribute to a sustainable future.

1. Regulation (EC) No 443/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009 setting emission performance standards for new passenger cars as part of the Community's integrated approach to reducing CO₂ emissions from light-duty vehicles.
2. DIN EN ISO 14040:2009 Environmental management — Life cycle assessment — Principles and framework. German Institute for Standardization (Registered German Association), Berlin [Deutsches Institut für Normung e.V., Berlin].
3. Life cycle assessment methodology report, World Steel Association, Brussels, Belgium, 2011.
4. Directive 2000/53/ЕС of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 September 2000 on end-of-life vehicles.