This month, Purem by Eberspaecher starts using Circle Green CO₂-reduced stainless steel from partner Outokumpu to reduce emissions from the automotive industry.

This sustainable stainless steel has an up to 92% lower carbon footprint compared to the industry average of 6.1 tons of CO₂ per ton of stainless steel. The Circle Green stainless steel achieves a level of less than 0.6 tCO₂e/t steel driven by improvements in the production process, such as the use of a higher recycling rate, CO₂-free energy sources, as well as CO₂-optimized distribution channels.

Circle Green stainless steel by Outokumpu.

With clear goals for a CO₂ neutral production by 2030 and becoming a CO₂ neutral company in the future, we drive forward proactively the use of sustainable materials in our products. Towards zero emissions, stainless steel plays a major role in our current products as well as future innovations for new drive technologies like the hydrogen engine.

—Uwe Ackermann, Vice President Global Procurement, Purem by Eberspaecher

The first shipment of the material was already delivered by service partner thyssenkrupp Materials Processing Europe to the Purem by Eberspaecher Wilsdruff plant. Here, the more sustainable stainless steel will be processed into commercial vehicle exhaust systems with a reduced CO₂ footprint. This is an important step towards reducing Scope 3 emissions at Purem by Eberspaecher.

Production of exhaust systems for commercial vehicles at Wilsdruff.

Adapted purchasing strategies—that include Outokumpu standard stainless steel with the highest recycling rate in Europe and producing with green energy (1.7 tCO₂e/t Steel)—will achieve just in Europe further savings of up to 12% in CO₂ emissions this year. Thus, the approach to use Circle Green in the future is a consistent continuation of the supplier's sustainable purchasing strategy. Advanced talks are currently underway with key automotive manufacturers to use CO₂-reduced as well as Circle Green in series production. In this way, Purem by Eberspaecher is actively shaping the transformation towards sustainable materials.