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MINIMIZING OUR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

Carpenter Technology is committed to protecting the environment and recognizes the need to minimize our impact through a managed sustainability program. In this section, you can learn what makes Carpenter Technology unique in the steel industry: 

  • We don't use carbon intensive inputs, like coal, in our production. 
  • We operate low-carbon electric arc furnaces and vacuum-induction melting in melting operations
  • More than 70% of our material inputs are from reclaimed or recycled steel and alloys
  • 90% of our electricity is sourced from nuclear power, a carbon-neutral source.

Learn more about Carpenter Technology's environmental stewardship efforts below. 

Athens, Alabama facility

ATHENS, ALABAMA FACILITY

Athens, Alabama facility

ATHENS, ALABAMA FACILITY

Strategy & Governance

The Environmental, Health and Safety (EH&S) team oversees our environmental management system with technical experts in all facilities where we operate. The EH&S team develops policies and protocols that establish our global standards for air emissions, waste, scrap metal recycling, and training. In addition, the EH&S team is responsible for ensuring we are complying with applicable legal and regulatory requirements. Like most organizations in our industry, we are subject to domestic and international environmental laws and regulations and are aware of the dynamic regulatory landscape and legal requirements. Our Board of Directors and ESG Committee regularly reviews and approves our environmental activities. 

We understand the importance of enterprise-wide management of environmental impact and risks, and have prioritized the following areas to address:


  • EH&S Management System
  • Energy Management & Greenhouse Gas Emissions
  • Air Emissions
  • Waste Management
  • Water Management
  • Sustainable Sourcing


Our EH&S Management System includes mechanisms for regularly evaluating environmental compliance and managing changes in business operations while assessing actual and potential environmental impacts. 

Our goal is to have our key manufacturing sites achieve ISO 14001 certification by the end of 2022.

COMMITTING TO GHG EMISSIONS REDUCTION TARGETS

Steel manufacturing is an energy-intensive process, which is why Carpenter Technology actively monitors and manages energy consumption across all operating locations. Today, approximately 90% of our electricity is sourced from nuclear power, a carbon-neutral source. Recognizing the nuclear offsets, the balance of our GHG emissions are from fossil fuels used in our operations. To reduce our GHG emissions, we have committed to reducing our intensity of Scope 1 & 2 emissions per ton of material by 30% by 2035. 

Through 4 main activities, we plan on achieving our GHG emissions reduction targets: 

  1. Recycle waste heat from our furnaces to improve efficiency of furnace operations

  2. Convert natural gas fueled boilers and furnaces to electric

  3. Increase the share of carbon-free grid-electricity, using renewable and nuclear-based energy

  4. Improve our operational efficiencies

In addition, we will pursue a number of other initiatives that will help us further drive down our CO2 emissions.

 

 

CARPENTER TECHNOLOGY HAS SET THE GOAL OF REDUCING INTENSITY OF SCOPE 1 & SCOPE 2 EMISSIONS PER TON OF MATERIAL BY 30% BY 2035. 

 

Visit our Sustainability Reporting Page

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Water Management

To minimize the impact of our operations on local water supplies, we implement best practices in water use. For example, we’ve reduced the nitrates in the treated water discharge from our Reading, PA, facility by nearly 64% since 1997. And in 2021, we began installing new treatment systems at our largest facility in Reading that are estimated to reduce water consumption and discharge volume by up to 80% when implemented.

Water use in 2019
WELL WATER USE (MILLION M3)
1.35
PUBLIC WATER USE (MILLION M3)
0.64
TOTAL WATER USE (MILLION M3)
1.99
DISCHARGED (MILLION M3)
1.65

WASTE MANAGEMENT

We are committed to reducing waste generated by our operations. Our waste management approach aims to reduce environmental risk and operational costs by prioritizing waste prevention in our manufacturing processes.

We track the amounts and types of waste generated by each facility and regularly review third-party audits that inspect waste management partners. We are currently analyzing all nonhazardous waste produced to determine recyclability.

77% Waste
OF OUR WASTE WAS RECYCLED IN 2019

Air Emissions

We closely monitor and report air emissions from our major manufacturing sites. Emissions tracked include GHGs, nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulphur oxides (SOx), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and hazardous air pollutants (HAPs).

All manufacturing facilities strictly comply with applicable regulatory requirements regarding emissions limits and hold valid air permits where required. We have implemented many measures to reduce emissions, including dust, mist, and fume pollution capture and control systems. Efficiency is always a consideration during equipment repair and upgrades; for example, production furnaces are retrofitted with higher efficiency burners and other components. The use of volatile compounds, particularly related to degreasers such as trichloroethane (TCA), trichloroethylene (TCE) and tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene or PCE), have been greatly reduced or eliminated.

SUSTAINABLE SOURCING

Reclaimed Material

Carpenter Technology is proud to create products that contain as much recycled or reclaimed material as possible. We rely heavily on the use of reclaimed metal in our production of highly specialized metal alloys:


  • The steel melting process produces recyclable metal byproducts; we recover as much as possible to reduce our need to procure more carbon-intensive inputs.
  • We continually evaluate and update our processes to ensure efficiency and seek opportunities to source scrap material from customers to return to our production process.
  • We source materials from suppliers that are committed to reducing their environmental impact through carbon-neutral programs, including our main source of pure nickel.
73%
OF THE FEEDSTOCK USED IN PRODUCTION IS RECYCLED SCRAP

SUSTAINABLE SUPPLIERS

Our goal is to source material and products from suppliers that promote sustainability, and to conduct reviews of our key suppliers for compliance with our policies by 2022.

Material
Material

Conflict Minerals

As a responsible participant in the metals supply chain, we take seriously our responsibility to ensure materials used in our products are sourced in an ethical manner and in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including the Security Exchange Commission’s “conflict minerals” rules. Twice annually, we audit our suppliers for Conflict Mineral Compliance to ensure the integrity of our supply chain. Our most recent Conflict Minerals Disclosure can be found online along with our most recent annual filings.

Carpenter Technology is a member of the Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI), an international organization that seeks to mitigate the social and environmental impacts of extraction and processing of minerals in supply chains. We rely on the RMI to ensure we remain at the forefront of sustainable sourcing practices.

Policy

Carpenter Technology expects its suppliers to operate in a manner that respects human rights and to comply with all local, national, and international laws as well as any regulations or standards related to labor practices. 

We expect suppliers to conduct themselves in accordance with Carpenter Technology's Supplier Code of Conduct, Human Rights Policy, as well as our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics. 

 

VIEW OUR POLICIES