FOCUS ON SUSTAINABILITY
21
GWP [ kg CO 2 -eq ]
Carbon Footprint Study Results Grid Mix Variation
800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100
0
406.3 165.4
240.9
160,000 km | Reference Vehicle : Volkswagen iD . 3 ( 15.2 kWh / 100 km ) | Scrap Flow : Cut-Off
Steel Variant
312.8 138.3
174.4
1.4301 Standard
665.4 106.9
558.5
Aluminium Variant
258.9 18.0
240.9
Steel Variant
189.5 15.1
174.4
1.4301 Standard
570.2 11.7
558.5
Aluminium Variant
474.1
233.2
240.9
Steel Variant
369.5
195.1
174.4
1.4301 Standard
709.3 150.8
558.5
Aluminium Variant
571.2
330.3
240.9
Steel Variant
Today
450.8
276.3
174.4
1.4301 Standard
772.1
213.6
558.5
Aluminium Variant
Production + Net Recycling Credit Use Phase
Regional energy mix
To conclude the investigation , the influence that the regional energy mix had on both the production and use phases was evaluated .
“ It is clear that the energy mix has a major influence on both phases . Norway , with an energy mix that is almost entirely based upon renewables , results in a remarkably low carbon footprint in the ‘ use ’ phase . In contrast , China , where the majority of electricity is produced by coal , has the highest figure for the ‘ use ’ case . The most significant thing to note is that , even with the most favourable energy mix , aluminium has a higher carbon footprint than stainless steel ,” outlined Lindner .
“ Designing with stainless steel always results in the lowest carbon footprint . This is true in any scenario , including future circular economy models with increased levels of recycling and variations in electricity grid mixes in different regions ,” he added .
Taking the results of this investigation forward , suggested Outokumpu , a new type of car windscreen sticker might appear , quoting the GWP value based on stainless steel under the circular economy .
Markus Buckner
Market Mobility and Urbanisation , Outokumpu ) also offered an insight into the future of automotive mobility and outlined Outokumpu ’ s future vision of a sustainable luxury car made of stainless steel . “ It is important to underline the importance of stainless steel ’ s heatresistance properties which , in battery electric vehicles , are directly connected to crash safety . As an example , Forta H400 stainless steel is used in the Posche Carrera GT model ( crashboxes and cross members ),” he told the roundtable participants .
Forta H500 stainless steel is also used in the ring structure of one of the German
Aerospace Centre ’ s next-generation car concepts : the Safe Light Regional Vehicle ( or SLRV ).
Outokumpu employs 8,469 professionals in more than 30 countries . It was acknowledged as a Climate Leader by the Financial Times and received a Platinum ranking from EcoVadis . It achieved its highest recycled material content ever in 2023 at 95 %. It also confirmed reduction of its emission intensity reduced from 2016 to 2023 by 27 %.
“ We avoided 12 million tonnes of emissions by using our stainless steel . This corresponds to over 30 million passengers ’ one-way flights across the Atlantic Ocean . Low-carbon electricity makes up 95 % of our electricity mix globally ,” it concluded . n
www . outokumpu . com
In conclusion
During the roundtable on 11 September 2024 , Markus Buckner ( Head of Strategic
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