EuroWire May 2023

Corporate News

Coke oven closure proposed for sustainable future

significant challenges because of the economic slowdown, rising inflation and exceptionally high energy prices.” The company’s coke ovens at the steel making site in Scunthorpe are reaching the end of their operational life and their closure would bring environmental ben efits including reductions in emissions to air and water. British Steel’s low-carbon roadmap was unveiled in October 2021, and the company is already undertaking several projects to improve its environ mental performance. British Steel www.britishsteel.co.uk Orion has also received a Gold medal rat ing from EcoVadis, an independent or ganisation that assesses the performance of companies in a wide range of sustain ability areas. The company improved its score from the previous year, moving up from 72 to 77 points – just one point away from receiving a Platinum medal rating. “The way Orion was able to jump five points in one year and reach the top one per cent of companies shows how the many improvements we have made can add up to a big change,” said Mr Painter. “We are so close to Platinum now and will continue to strive for that goal as we deliver sustainable solutions to our customers.” Orion Engineered Carbons SA https://orioncarbons.com

demand expected to grow over the coming decades, British Steel has a crucial role to play in ensuring the UK has its own supply of high-quality steel. To make sure we can deliver the steel Britain requires, we’re undergoing the biggest transformation in our 130-year history. “To support the journey to net zero, our owners, Jingye, have invested £330mn in capital projects during their first three years of ownership and they continue to invest unprecedented sums of money in British Steel. Jingye is committed to our long-term future but decarbonisation is a major challenge for our business and, like most companies, we’re facing of Orion’s core values, so we are committed to reporting openly and transparently about our climate programme – especially the CO 2 emissions reduction measures we have implemented and the success we’ve had protecting the environment and our communities.” Since 2017, Orion has disclosed its climate related performance through CDP and until now received a ‘C’ score, indicating an awareness level of engagement. CDP says companies with a ‘B’ score have reached the management level: they “have addressed the environmental impacts of their business and ensure good environmental management.” The ‘A’ list is for companies that have advanced beyond awareness and management to become leaders on environmental transparency and action.

British Steel has announced proposals to close its coke ovens as part of a drive to “overcome global economic challenges and build a green and sustainable future”. The company, which saw its bills for energy and carbon increase by £190mn last year, said that decisive action is required because of the unprecedented rise in operating costs, surging inflation and the need to improve environmental performance. The proposals could lead to the loss of up to 260 roles at the company’s site in Scunthorpe, UK. British Steel CEO Xifeng Han said, “Steel is vital to modern economies and with Orion Engineered Carbons has been upgraded to a ‘B’ score by the non profit organisation CDP, in recognition that the company has addressed the environmental impact of its businesses and ensures good environmental management. The UK-based CDP, formerly known as the Carbon Disclosure Project, operates a global system that enables companies to report their environmental impact. It assesses the information with its own methodology and provides a score. More than 18,700 companies worldwide reported data through CDP in 2022. “Our ‘B’ score is the latest example of the tremendous progress we have made in recent years with sustainability,”said Orion CEO Corning Painter.“Accountability is one

Orion twice upgraded by environmental reporting groups

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May 2023