Americas’ Calvert mill receives environmental stewardship award for CO₂ reduction innovation

Once again, Partners for Environmental Progress (PEP) has recognized Outokumpu’s state-of-the art mill in Calvert, Alabama for its continuous efforts to minimize impacts to the environment.

During PEP’s annual meeting on September 25, 2025, the organization presented the Calvert team with an award for its innovative Soft Lime Replacement Project.

The stainless steel industry relies heavily on lime in the melting process, which contributes significantly to CO₂ emissions. Outokumpu’s Melt Shop team trialed straight limestone in the Electric Arc Furnace, bypassing the processing step that produces soft lime. This innovation reduced CO₂ emissions, improved efficiency, and generated operational savings.

Since implementation, the project has:

• Eliminated over 4,000 tons of CO₂ emissions
• Improved refractory life by 5%
• Reduced gunning material by 10%

Herman Moggee, Head of Melt Shop Operations, noted, “What began with skepticism quickly turned into excitement and dedication, as our team saw the real-world success of a method not commonly used in the stainless steel industry.”

Wayne Denton, Director of Environmental, Health & Safety, added, “This project demonstrates Outokumpu’s commitment to continual improvement in environmental standards—locally in Calvert and globally.”

Outokumpu is a globally recognized leader in sustainability. Its leadership emphasizes that sustainability is not just a policy, but an actionable commitment embedded in every stage of production.

The PEP Environmental Stewardship Award highlights how businesses like Outokumpu can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve operational efficiency, and lead the way in sustainable industrial practices—setting a model for the global stainless steel industry.

This is the third consecutive year that Outokumpu’s mill in Calvert has received PEP’s Environmental Stewardship Award for its environmental performance across its operations.

For more information: 

Kesshia Davis, Communications Lead, Business Area Americas, tel. +1-251-377-6018