Recycling steel isn’t a promise. It’s a fact.
The Environment
At Reinforcing Steel Europe, we are mindful of our responsibility towards the environment and act accordingly. At our central group plant, Badische Stahlwerke in Kehl, we recycle scrap daily in modern electric arc furnaces. CO₂ emissions from this process are, on average, 70 to 80 % lower than those from the conventional blast furnace route (cf. World Steel Association – Steel Statistical Yearbook 2022. Worldsteel. Section: Energy use and CO₂ emissions by route, pp. 24–26). In a world where environmental challenges are becoming increasingly apparent, we are committed to further strengthening our contribution to a responsible future.
Scrap instead of iron ore: this keeps steel in the loop – and conserves resources.
By using scrap metal instead of iron ore, we achieve a recycling rate of up to 96.8 % at our steelworks in Kehl and conserve valuable resources (2024, certified to DIN EN ISO 14021). In this way, we establish a framework for responsible production processes throughout our value chain.
BSW: three decades of active environmental protection
Environmental protection has a long tradition at Badische Stahlwerke. We introduced EMAS as early as 1997 and have published our verified Environmental Statements annually ever since. For more than 30 years, we have continuously enhanced our environmental management. We consider certifications and transparent reporting as a central part of responsible steel production. For us, sustainability is not a short-term goal, but a long-term process. Our commitment to environmental and energy management dates back to the 1990s.
30+ years of environmental commitment
Reduction of specific CO₂ emissions at the Kehl site (Scope 1):
Environmental responsibility has been an established part of our work for many years. As early as 2013, we were the first company in Germany to have Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) drawn up for reinforcing steel products by IFT Rosenheim, and we actively contributed to the development of the underlying Product Category Rules (PCRs). Since 2024, we have also offered our customers the option of purchasing our products, on request, with a certified 100% green electricity addendum.
EPD
Our carbon footprint: through the use of green electricity, we are now able to offer our customers reinforcing steel with a GWP-total (A1–A3) of 293 kg CO₂-eq/t steel.
LEED and 14021
All of the scrap we use comes entirely from European sources. Transport is 90% environmentally friendly via ship and rail. Our recycling rate is certified in accordance with DIN EN ISO 14021 and currently stands at 96.6 % (2025 value). In 2024, the highest figure recorded was 96.8 %.
