THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS OF MRF

At MRF, we understand that the sustainability of our operations is key to the future: of the steel sector, of our own activity, of our immediate environment and especially of our planet. We still have a long, long way to go, but coinciding with World Environment Day, we take note of the progress we have made in recent years, the result of having begun to implement resource and waste management practices, and to increase our efforts to measure and minimize the environmental impact of our steel solutions factory.

Circularity. Waste reduction.

Over the past year, we have incorporated strategies to reduce the accumulation of waste in our operations.

For example, through recycling and reuse programs, we have managed to reduce paper and cardboard waste by 10%; the acquisition of a cardboard shredder now allows us to give this material a new life without discarding it. It serves as a protective element in the packaging for the shipment of our products.

We have also reduced scrap production: the steel offcuts generated by our laser cutter are assembled and reused in the form of self-made baskets, which support us in terms of storage and internal transport of materials between different operations in our hardware factory.

Packaging waste management

The initiatives we have started to reduce waste also involve package management, seeking to promote the use of sustainable materials. In the last year, we have managed to reduce the amount of packaging waste by 3%, and made changes in terms of the materials used.

For example, in the case of low-density polyethylene packaging, we have increased the percentage of recycled material from 20% to 60%. For polypropylene packaging, we have gone from using non-recycled materials to using 12.5% recycled materials. As for plastics, we have reduced their use by 50% and increased their recycled composition by another 50%.

Energy efficiency and reduction of emission

The efficient use our of resources is also a high priority to MRF.

We use various dashboards to monitor and optimise our energy use in real time. In view of the data, we know that we have reduced the contracted electricity consumption by a monthly average of 16.9%, thanks to the self-generated energy provided by the photovoltaic panels installed on the roof of our factory. Together, they provide 28.6% of the active power we require for our industrial activity and allow us to reduce our carbon emissions.

Benefits for our clients

Little by little, this positive impact we are making is contributing to a cleaner and more efficient supply chain and is being transferred on to our customers and partners: we can provide them with detailed information on our environmental impact, including our Scope 1 and 2 carbon footprint, material footprint and resources use. 

With this information, we enable our customers to evaluate and improve their own processes, fostering collaboration towards a greener future. Together, we can reduce pollution and promote more efficient use of resources throughout the value chain, creating a beneficial and lasting impact on the environment and society.

Next steps in MRF's environmental journey

We well know that there remains a lot of work to be done, and at MRF we want to continue on this path towards sustainability. To this end, we have a specific ESG working group (Environment, Social and Governance) dedicated to addressing these challenges in a holistic manner.

Our priority strategy in the short and medium term will focus on efficient resource management and the circular economy. This may lead to the implementation of machines with lower energy consumption, the use of less polluting chemicals or the optimisation of processes to reduce the consumption of raw materials. We want these efforts to transcend across our entire business, ensuring that every aspect of our operations contributes to this common goal.

In addition, a key focus of our strategy will also be on water and marine resource management, implementing technologies and practices that enable more efficient water use, reducing water consumption and minimizing our impact on ecosystems and aquifers. Protecting water is crucial to ensure long-term sustainability and to protect the natural resources we all share.

In short, we will continue to work to improve our processes and reduce our environmental impact, implementing measures that meet today's needs without compromising the capabilities of the future. Our aim is to ensure a balance between growth, environmental care and social well-being, moving together towards a more sustainable future.