German home appliance firm Miele adds low carbon ‘green steel’ to sustainability sales pitch
- The carbon dioxide generated by the green steel process is around two-thirds lower than that of steel produced by conventional blast furnaces
- Miele also aims to raise its annual usage of recycled plastic to 7,500 tonnes by 2025 from 194 tonnes currently, mainly for use in vacuum cleaners
High end German home appliance maker Miele has turned to low carbon “green steel” to decarbonise its supply chain, as it seeks to bolster the sustainability credentials of its products known for their durability.
Last November, the 123 year-old company launched a pilot project to source around 24 tonnes of low carbon steel a month from German steel maker Salzgitter for use in its cookers and ovens measuring 60cm in size.
“This is a pilot project,” said Kenny Lam, managing director of Miele Hong Kong and Macau. “There are still uncertainties [in the pace of adoption] as the worldwide availability of green steel is quite limited and the costs are higher.”
The carbon dioxide generated by the process is around two-thirds lower than that of steel produced by conventional blast furnaces, a fact verified by Munich-based safety and quality certification provider TUV Sud, according to Miele.
The reduction comes because green steel is produced in an electric arc furnace powered by low carbon energy sources, as well as from recycling by using scrap steel.
