ROTO is committed to fostering a sustainable future on a healthy planet and with an inclusive society that provides work and equal opportunities for everyone. For us, sustainability involves more than just the environment. We aim for broad value creation in support of the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations and are convinced of its necessity for our future licence to operate. This is anchored in our purpose: The Sustainable Colourful Metal Family Group.
Integrated UN Sustainable Development Goals
To give substance to our sustainability goals, the seventeen SDGs are integrated into eight core themes and translated into KPIs, which is shown in this report on the page ‘Eight core themes integrated in seventeen SDGs’. This helps us identify where and how we can make the most impact and how we can contribute to solving global problems in the areas of poverty, health, inequality, climate change, peace and justice. All five of ROTO’s Business Units are working towards external UN SDG certification: upon successful completion of the audits, each Business Unit will receive official UN SDG certification. Rezinal has already gone through this process and received the UN certificate for ‘SDG Pioneer’ in 2021 and ‘SDG Champion’ in 2023.
All our units have obtained the ISO 14001 environmental management system certification to better control our impact, prevent environmental pollution and raise awareness among our employees about environmental issues.
Gaelle Jean-Louis – environmental manager Prestia
Cradle to Cradle (C2C) certification
In 2022, Rotocoat achieved the C2C Bronze certificate. Staco, which obtained the C2C Silver certificate in the past, has now unfortunately received the C2C Bronze certificate due to a low percentage of lead still being used in the galvanisation process. With an eye on improvement, Staco is working to regain the C2C Silver certificate.
A lower lead percentage is becoming an industry trend. As the industry in general is adapting to zinc with less lead, Rezinal has developed a new low-lead variant of recycled zinc, called R4, and is finding that ash delivered for recycling generally contains less lead than before.
Total energy and water consumption
Our total energy consumption decreased by 1.8% to 79,755 mWh (2022: 81,235 mWh). Our total water consumption decreased by 3.5% to 31,730 m3 (2022: 32,890 m3). With every investment, sustainability impact is part of the decision-making process. This applies not only to our strategic investments but also to replacement investments.
Solar energy reduces carbon footprint
In 2023, the 3,240 solar panels on the roof of De Boer Staal’s production hall generated green electricity, of which a total of 661 mWh (2022: 783 mWh; 2021: 582 mWh) was returned to the energy grid. With this return included, De Boer Staal is de facto the first Business Unit in our Family Group to be CO2 neutral based on scope 1 and 2.
In 2023, the second tranche of solar panels on the roof of Staco Nederland in Reuver (about 275 mWh) became operational. With a yearly total capacity of 475 mWh, these solar panels produced 243 mWh of electricity, most of which is used in its own production.
In 2023, the first tranche of solar panels (about 345mWh) was installed on the roofs of Rotocoat Heerhugowaard. Project planning continues investigating the options for solar panels at certain Rotocoat and Staco sites.
By achieving the Pioneer Certificate from Voka Charter Sustainable Entrepreneurship, Staco has embedded the seventeen sustainability goals of the United Nations into its business operations. This makes Staco future-proof. A team of experts assisted Staco in taking various steps in sustainability, which led to demonstrable results.
Luc Habets - innovation and marketing manager Staco
Dutch Wind reduces CO2 emissions
Our CO2 production (scope 1 and 2) was reduced by 6.2% to 19,085 tonnes (2022: 20,344 tonnes) due to savings in energy consumption and also largely due to lower surface treatment volumes in 2023. Besides this, our Dutch electricity usage in 2023 came from Dutch Wind. Where available, we will procure green energy.
Further investments in energy transformation are being prepared to contribute to reducing our environmental impact. When discussing our (replacement) investments, energy consumption and CO2 emissions are considered and an integral part of the decision-making process. Electrification will further reduce our CO2 emissions. Any opportunities – especially in the Netherlands – may be hampered by a lack of available infrastructure on the electricity grid, which unfortunately will remain for the next five to ten years. Possible investments in wind turbines at our sites were not yet feasible due to government regulations.
Reduction of carbon emissions
At present, Rezinal, the largest CO2 producer in our Family Group, is focusing on reducing CO2 in its zinc recycling process. A part of the electricity is procured as green energy. In 2023, the production level was lower than in 2022, with a decreasing effect on the CO2 production level. A big advantage of recycled zinc is that CO2 emissions from the production of recycled zinc is approximately ten times lower than from primary zinc production.
Methanisation plant reduces electricity usage
Together with agricultural neighbours, Prestia has formed an association called ‘Energiculteurs de l’Oust’, which exploits a methanisation plant. This biogas factory transforms agricultural waste into gas that is used to produce electricity and heat. The electricity is then delivered to the grid, and the heat is used to heat the pre-treatment baths of Prestia SBG’s galvanisation plant, leading to a reduction of electricity usage of 1,147 mWh (2022: 1,019 mWh).
Switching to electric company cars
In our company car policy for the Netherlands, ROTO had already switched to full electric a couple of years ago. Belgium followed in 2022 and at the beginning of 2024, Prestia decided to make the switch as well. Apart from Germany and Poland, where ROTO chose hybrid cars, in all other countries the vast majority of company cars will be fully electric in the next two to three years.
Energy transformation
Prestia has the largest zinc kettle in France, which is equipped with an electric furnace. It seems that in the future it will be possible to transform other sites of Prestia to electricity as well instead of gas. In 2022 and early 2023, Rotocoat installed a new zinc kettle and a new innovative zinc furnace at Rotocoat Heerhugowaard. This zinc furnace, the first of its kind in Europe, is equipped with a new type of burner that uses a heat recovery system that consumes 30% less energy, thus reducing CO2 emissions. Prestia will start the complete refurbishment of the Prestia GK galvanising plant in Carpiquet in 2024 to become the first CO2 neutral (scope 1 and 2) galvanising plant in France. Rotocoat will replace one of its powder coating muffle ovens in Wolvega with a hybrid electric alternative, which is expected to use about 90% less gas than the current oven.
We have implemented the use of low-temperature degreaser and powder to reduce our energy consumption.
Cécile Olive - baths manager Prestia SBG
Donations to social and environmental good causes
In 2023, ROTO donated € 45,169 (2022: € 56,100) to charities and good causes working in the following areas:
- people: donations for Ukraine refugees;
- culture: initiatives to support local activities such as sports and music;
- health: sponsoring initiatives that collect money for specific health issues and support housing for the socially disabled;
- poverty: donations for food packages for poor families.
The ROTO forest in Java contributed to 38 tonnes CO2 compensation per full year (totalling up to 79 tonnes until the end of 2023).
