The German metals industry is actively committed to reducing CO₂ emissions. The non-ferrous metals sector plays a key role in this through innovative processes and products. The Voigt & Schweitzer Group (ZINQ) was honoured with the Best Practice Award by the Metalle pro Klima initiative for its exemplary achievements in CO₂ reduction. The resource-efficient microZINQ® thin-film piece galvanising coating not only reduces zinc consumption by 80 % but also cuts CO₂ emissions significantly, making it one of the three main award-winning examples.

On 17 October 2017, the Best Practice Award for exceptional climate protection contributions in the non-ferrous metals industry was presented at Palais Lenbach in Munich. The corporate initiative „Metalle pro Klima“ (Metals for Climate) already honoured particularly energy- and resource-efficient processes in the sector in 2016. This year, CO₂-saving products were recognised.

The chairman of the Economic Committee in the Bavarian State Parliament and former Bavarian Minister for Economic Affairs, Erwin Huber, said in his laudatory speech:

„Industry and climate action must be considered together. The Best Practice Award winners illustrate this ideal. They deliver top performance in CO₂ reduction.“

In addition to resource efficiency and an accompanying reduction in CO₂, microZINQ® makes a significant contribution towards closed process and product cycles. Consequently, duroZINQ® and microZINQ® are the world's first Cradle to Cradle®-certified surfaces and already meet the requirements of the EU Circular Economy directives. In 2015, capacities at the Hagen microZINQ® site were increased once again with a new 7-metre plant. The total investment of 8 million euros also includes funding from the European Union from the European Regional Development Fund amounting to 1.7 million euros.

„In our piece galvanizing surfaces, we combine efficiency with effectiveness.
“The responsible, efficient use of resources combined with effective material selection is the decisive factor for successful, sustainable business," counters Lars Baumgürtel, managing partner of the ZINQ Group.

„The products we manufacture in our industry are true problem-solvers in climate protection. They are absolutely essential to reduce CO₂ in a wide variety of sectors,“ explains Ulrich Becker, Deputy Chairman of Metalle pro Klima. „Just think of the energy sector, for instance, where an energy transition can only be achieved with non-ferrous metals.“

The best practice examples from the „Metals for Climate“ members serve as a model for the entire industry. They demonstrate the industry's current state and highlight the sector's innovative capacity.