Environmental management in the Group
The central point of contact for all questions related to environmental issues is the “Group Environment” unit. At the Group level, this unit—together with the Management Board of voestalpine AG and the divisional environmental officers—defines:
- strategic objectives
- thematic focal points
- positions relating to policies affecting the company’s interests regarding important strategic long-term issues, such as energy and climate policy or the LCA
At the same time, Group Environment coordinates the flow and exchange of information in the Group within the framework of the „Environment und Policy Networks“ that consists of Group representatives and the environmental officers of the Steel, Special Steel, Metal Engineering, and Metal Forming Divisions, together with representatives from voestalpine’s CR, research, and legal departments.
Environmental management systems to improve standards
The implemented environmental management systems for quality, safety, energy, and the environment make a crucial contribution toward maintaining and improving the environmental performance of each Group company. Packages of measures that are rolled out regularly and ongoing monitoring of progress are important elements of the environmental management system.
Action that is rooted in expertise and reflects a high degree of familiarity with environmental issues is only possible if the entire workforce has internalized a true awareness of environmental concerns. Therefore, environmental protection at voestalpine begins literally with each and every individual employee and is understood as an ongoing improvement process.
Comprehensive environmental data from voestalpine is collected. They form the basis for voestalpine’s good environmental performance, and is included in publications such as the CR Report.
EMAS certification of the locations Linz and Steyrling
The voestalpine companies at the locations Linz and Steyrling sites are validated according to the environmental management system EMAS. All significant environmental aspects are described in regularly updated environmental statements.
We don’t want to praise our own environmental performance. The annual assessment performed by external auditors as part of the certification process provides objective, independent, fact-based confirmation of where we stand and what we can improve. This assessment carries more weight, especially for interested public and customers.