Weber visits Outokumpu in Finland.
From the edge of the Arctic Circle to Weber Food Technology's machines – this is how the journey of the stainless steel Weber uses to produce its solutions can be described. CEO Tobias Weber and Robert Schwabe, Chief Corporate Sustainability Officer, learned of the origin during a visit to the Outokumpu plant in Tornio and the neighboring Kemi mine in Finland. The trip offered impressive insights into the origins of one of the company's key materials – and into a partnership that sets an example.
Green steel – not just a buzzword, but a living reality.
The Kemi mine is owned by Outokumpu. The fact that a steel producer owns its own mine is something very special and unique in Europe. Outokumpu is now one of the most sustainable stainless steel producers in the world. The company’s average CO₂ footprint is just 1.52 kg CO₂e per kilogram of stainless steel – well below the global industry average of around 7 kg CO₂e. By the end of 2025, the Kemi mine is even set to become the world’s first CO₂-neutral mine.
The Tornio plant has already converted over 80 % of its electricity requirements to CO₂-neutral sources, largely replaced fossil fuels and initiated investments in a biocoke and biomethane plant for further decarbonization.
Weber benefits directly from this sustainable production method. By purchasing over 1,200 tons of stainless steel sheet from Outokumpu every year, the company saves around 6,576 tons of CO₂ compared to the global average – a measurable contribution to more climate-friendly production processes in food processing and to meeting its own sustainability targets.
A partnership with responsibility.
The long-standing cooperation between Weber and Outokumpu goes far beyond a classic supply relationship. It is a strategic partnership based on shared values:
- Sustainability that is measurable
- Reliability in quality and supply chain
- Transparency and a spirit of innovation at every level
Together, the two companies are shaping a supply chain with responsibility – from the mine to the machine. The partnership has existed for decades and is characterized by trust, quality and the shared understanding that real sustainability does not have to be marketed loudly, but is lived every day. Long before “green steel” became the focus of debate, it was clear to Weber that high-quality machines can only be produced if the material used also meets the highest technological and ecological requirements. It is therefore essential for the company to know where the materials come from and under what conditions they are produced. After all, responsibility does not begin with the construction of the machine, but with the choice of the right material.
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