Federal Environment Minister Schulze names Voigt & Schweitzer 'Climate Protection Company'

17.03.2020 – Berlin. The nationwide pioneering initiative "Klimaschutz-Unternehmen" (Climate Protection Companies) has admitted four new members, and Voigt & Schweitzer GmbH & Co. KG (ZINQ), a surface finishing specialist from Gelsenkirchen, is now part of this unique nationwide network of climate protectors. Federal Environment Minister Svenja Schulze presented the certificates for the outstanding climate protection achievements of the recognised companies in Berlin on Friday, thereby highlighting their commitment to ambitious climate protection goals and their sophisticated agenda for resource efficiency and effectiveness.

Federal Environment Minister Svenja Schulze: „The federal government's climate protection package, with a volume of 54 billion euros over the next four years, is an investment, innovation and modernisation programme. Climate protection will thus become an economic driver. Innovative, resource-preserving and climate-friendly products from Germany can become export hits. This will make the economy fit for the markets of the future and show that sustainable business and economic success belong together. The climate protection companies honoured today are idea generators and role models for many other entrepreneurs.“

Lars Baumgürtel, Managing Director of Voigt & Schweitzer: „Inclusion in the exclusive circle of climate protection companies is a special acknowledgement of our activities in the field of environmental and climate protection for our company and our employees. In surface technology, ZINQ sees itself as a pioneer for sustainable innovations, combining efficiency with effectiveness on the product and in the process. As a Cradle to Cradle-certified climate protection company, we want to implement strategies and measures for greater circularity on the path to „Zero Carbon“ and „Zero Waste“ – also in energy-intensive industries.“

On the occasion of the award, the companies were able to present their environmental and climate protection activities to the Minister for the Environment. Sven Biebler, Managing Director of Voigt & Schweitzer, presented the CSR initiative Planet ZINQ, which aims to achieve the objectives of „Zero Waste“ and „Zero Carbon“ by combining efficiency and effectiveness. „Zero Waste“ in terms of process and product is already largely implemented at ZINQ today through Cradle to Cradle certification: galvanised steel can be recycled again and again with the same quality, and almost all materials in the production process are recirculated.

In his presentation, Sven Biebler pointed out that hot-dip galvanising saves up to 114 kg of CO₂/t of steel over its long service life compared to a conventional paint coating – added up across the total tonnage, the positive footprint and/or CO₂ savings for customers due to ZINQ surfaces amount to 40,000 tonnes per year.

This huge positive footprint already includes the physically unavoidable energy consumption during the production of the surfaces, which emits approx. 20,000 tonnes of CO₂. In addition, ZINQ surfaces, like trees, are efficient CO₂ sinks: every year, ZINQ surfaces sequester over 6,000 tonnes of CO₂ through the formation of carbonated outer layers.

„We are convinced that our customers should be rewarded for choosing ZINQ, meaning long-lasting, circular products that generate a positive carbon footprint. If we are burdened by the carbon tax on our energy procurement, it would only be right to compensate our customers for their positive contribution at the same rate per tonne of CO₂ saved. This would set the right incentives and prevent the substitution of high-quality, durable surfaces, which ultimately also represents a form of carbon leakage., So, Sven Biebler's message again after receiving the certificate.

„At best, the focus should be on linking the Climate Protection Act and the Circular Economy Act.“