SÜLZLE STAHLPARTNER advances climate protection in reinforcement steel

The SÜLZLE Group is pursuing a global approach to sustainability in light of the urgent challenges posed by climate change. This commitment is reflected in the corporate philosophy of the family-owned company and in products like the sustainable reinforcement steel STOOX. “With STOOX, we are driving the development of sustainable reinforcement solutions and enabling our customers to demonstrably reduce their CO₂ footprint,” emphasizes Heinrich Sülzle, Managing Partner of the SÜLZLE Group. “We aim to actively shape sustainability and support our customers as a reliable partner for eco-friendly reinforcement solutions, starting from the early planning stages.” This dedication stems from the deep conviction of the family business, which has been run for 145 years across four generations: sustainability must be an integral part of the corporate vision to ensure long-term success and make a positive contribution for future generations.

The practicality of STOOX has already been proven: On behalf of ARGE U5, a joint venture between Ed. Züblin AG and Wayss & Freytag Ingenieurbau AG, SÜLZLE is supplying sustainable reinforcement steel for the construction of Hamburg’s U5 metro line. This steel has an average carbon footprint of less than 400 kilograms CO₂e per ton, significantly undercutting the original target of less than 500 kilograms CO₂e per ton a year ahead of schedule. This achievement is part of HOCHBAHN U5 Projekt GmbH’s comprehensive sustainability strategy, which aims to reduce conventional CO₂ emissions during U5 construction by 70%. This marks the first comprehensive CO₂ reduction strategy for a transportation infrastructure project in Germany.

What sets STOOX PCF Steel apart is that the entire process for determining its carbon footprint (Product Carbon Footprint, PCF) has been validated by TÜV. This makes the environmental impact of the reinforcement steel more transparent than ever across the entire supply chain. Digital production processes allow for traceability of the steel’s origin and enable calculation of its specific carbon footprint.

SÜLZLE Stahlpartner relies on STOOX PCF Steel made predominantly from reinforcement steel produced using modern electric arc furnace technology, which is far more environmentally friendly than conventional blast furnace production. In this process, steel scrap is melted instead of pig iron, achieving a recycling rate of around 90%. This makes the reinforcement steel a prime example of circular economy practices in the construction sector. SÜLZLE offers STOOX in three variants to meet diverse market and customer needs. Architects, investors, structural engineers, builders, precast plants, and construction companies can integrate the most suitable version into their projects in an environmentally friendly and efficient way.