Klöckner & Co receives the German Award for Sustainability Projects 2024 for its Nexigen® initiative

• “Nexigen^® – Green Steel” takes first place in the “Supply chain” category

• High-profile jury recognizes the establishment of transparency regarding the carbon footprint of products as added value for the industry as well as for other sectors

• A total of around 350 nominations in 28 categories

Duisburg, Germany, June 12, 2024 – Yesterday, Klöckner & Co received the German Award for Sustainability Projects 2024. With its initiative “Nexigen^® – Green Steel” the Company took first place in the “Supply chain” category. Klöckner & Co impressed the high-profile jury from business, science, and the media with the establishment of transparency regarding the carbon footprint of products along the entire supply chain. According to the jury, the initiative added value for the industry as well as for other sectors. This year, around 350 projects in 28 categories were nominated. A high-profile jury of experts was responsible for the assessment and evaluation.

Klöckner & Co considers the decarbonization of the steel industry to be a strategic opportunity for the Company and its customers. The focus is on the sustainable transformation of the entire product and service range as well as the Company’s own business activities. Accordingly, the development of sustainable business models is a key element of the corporate strategy. With the launch of the Nexigen^® brand, Klöckner & Co bundled its extensive range of sustainable products and services. With the bundled product, the Company offers its customers transparent, low-carbon solutions. This includes the development of a CO₂-reduced material portfolio and the introduction of rating scales for “green” steel, stainless steel and aluminum. The Company also developed the Nexigen^® PCF Algorithm, an innovative tool whose PCF calculation methodology has been certified by TÜV SÜD. The web-based technology solution based on this algorithm, Nexigen^® Data Services, makes the CO₂ emission data of the steel and metal products purchased by Klöckner & Co transparent to customers and offers more sustainable product alternatives. Customers are actively supported in their decarbonization efforts, allowing them to make more environmentally conscious decisions.

Furthermore, all of Klöckner & Co’s net zero CO₂ targets have been recognized by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) as science-based targets in the standard validation process. The Company is thus fully committed to reducing emissions along the entire value chain to net zero by 2050 in line with the SBTi targets.

The German Award for Sustainability Projects was presented for the first time in 2021. Since then, it has honored the best sustainability projects in the German corporate landscape each year. Under the patronage of former Federal Minister of Economics Brigitte Zypries, the award is presented by the German Institute for Service Quality (DISQ) in partnership with news channel ntv and the online business platform “DUP Magazin”. The award is intended to promote implementation of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.