Outokumpu owns the largest known reserves of chromite in the European Union. The company is also a leader in sustainability: As the first producer of ferrochromium in the industry, the Finnish raw materials company has published an environmental product declaration (EPD) for its ferrochromium production. An EPD is a standardised procedure to share data about the impact of a product on the environment. The ferrochromium currently produced by Outokumpu has a noticeably smaller carbon footprint than the sector average. The EPD for ferrochromium will further strengthen Outokumpu’s commitment to help their customers reduce their climate emissions.
“The environmental product declaration serves as a valuable proof of the small carbon footprint of Outokumpu ferrochromium and increases the transparency with regard to its impact on the environment. Further, the EPD is regarded as unique on the market, as it was verified by third parties and is based on a comprehensive ecological balance study. It will also help our customers provide their own declarations”, says Martti Sassi, Head of the Ferrochromium Business Unit at Outokumpu.
“Especially with regard to the upcoming EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), which will enter into the transitional phase in October 2023, the global demand for materials with a small carbon footprint – like ferrochromium – will probably rise considerably. In the face of this development, the EPD for ferrochromium by Outokumpu will certainly be a great advantage for our customers as well”, Sassi continues.
As the owner of a chrome mine, Outokumpu has unique access to an essential raw material for the production of stainless steel. Owning their ferrochromium production makes Outokumpu independent when it comes this important raw material for stainless steel. The Ferrochromium Business Unit operates the chrome mine in Kemi in Finland and the ferrochromium smelting plants in neighbouring Tornio.
