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 can save up to 114 kg of CO₂ over its long service life compared to conventional paint coatings₂s of steel saved – summed across the total tonnage, the positive footprint or CO₂-Savings for customers through ZINQ® surfaces of 40,000 tonnes per year.

This tremendous positive footprint already includes the physically unavoidable energy consumption during the manufacturing of the surfaces, which amounts to approximately 20,000 tonnes of CO₂ emits. Furthermore, ZINQ surfaces, like trees, are efficient CO₂-Storage: Every year, ZINQ coatings bind over 6,000 tonnes of CO₂ on the formation of carbonated top layers.

„We are convinced that our customers are making the decision for ZINQ, i.e. for durable, circular products that have a positive CO₂-generate footprint, should be rewarded. When we in energy consumption regarding CO₂-tax would be levied, it would only be right to reward our customers for their positive contribution by the same amount per tonne of CO saved₂ to be compensated. This would set the right incentives and avoid 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.“