Voigt & Schweitzer is the world's first and only company in the field of surface technology to recently receive the coveted Cradle to Cradle® certification for its duroZINQ® product. “Cradle to Cradle®” (C2C) describes the idea of thinking in terms of complete product cycles from the outset, thereby preventing the creation of environmentally harmful waste in the first place, because the materials circulate in cycles, following nature's example.

In addition to eco-efficiency, where Voigt & Schweitzer has been expanding its leading role in the use of raw materials and energy for years through the use of innovations, C2C adds another dimension to sustainability: effectiveness. According to their understanding, input and output are growth-enabling if all materials used and produced in the corresponding processes are free of toxicity and reusable in closed material cycles. The product and process characteristics of hot-dip galvanizing offer an excellent approach in this regard, as the metals used, steel and zinc, are only used, not consumed, and can therefore be recycled infinitely and in high quality. The achievable product life cycles of hot-dip galvanised steel are in the range of generations, surpassing those of coated steel or alternative materials.

“The aim is to promote the recycling of the materials used, the intermediate products produced, and the end product. To achieve this, it is first necessary to ensure that environmentally friendly materials are used and that recycling processes are established-at every stage of the process,” explains Dr Thomas Pinger, responsible for sustainability and innovation management at Voigt & Schweitzer.

Not only are the used cleaning solutions and enriched rinsing solutions sent for recycling, but the substances produced at the zinc kettle, such as zinc ash and hard zinc, are also recycled. This is supported not only by management systems such as DIN ISO 9001:2008, but also by practical requirements and improvement measures that are implemented on a permanent basis and monitored accordingly. The Environmental Protection Encouragement Agency (EPEA) spent two years investigating and evaluating all the substances used in the duroZINQ® hot-dip galvanizing process and the hot-dip galvanized surface itself at Voigt & Schweitzer.

“We have continuously made extensive investments in Cradle to Cradle®, optimising technologies, materials, and their use and recycling. This certificate is the reward for our commitment to sustainability and an incentive to continue on this path,” explains Lars Baumgürtel, managing partner at Voigt & Schweitzer.

In addition to the environment, customers also benefit: galvanisation provides steel structures with lasting protection against corrosion during their useful life, and at the end of their life cycle, they are fully recyclable products from which the resources used can be recovered in the closed material cycles of the metal industry. Voigt & Schweitzer thus contributes to making every steel structure more sustainable through effective surface technology.
With this certification, Voigt & Schweitzer is committed to the concept developed by Prof. Dr Michael Braungart and William McDonough of designing products in such a way that they do not end up as waste, but can be reused in biological or technical cycles.

“Our Cradle to Cradle® certified surface confirms to our customers that they are making a smart decision for the environment with ZINQ,” summarises Lars Baumgürtel.