The basis for steel production at DEW is scrap metal. A nationwide scrap collection system available in Germany is used to collect steel products that are no longer fit for use, thereby avoiding long journeys. This also contributes to the avoidance of CO₂ emissions during the transport of the input materials for steel production.

It is not only in the procurement of our main raw material that we pay attention to keeping our ecological footprint as small as possible. It is also our products, which are made on average from 90 % scrap: No material is as sustainable as steel, because it can be 100% recycled and thus contributes to the conservation of resources and the protection of the environment.

Together with its raw materials company dhi DEW is constantly improving its concept for scrap procurement. The concept is based on an intensive exchange between the steelworks and the raw materials company with the aim of constantly optimising the use of scrap for the steelworks. The more precisely the scrap is pre-sorted, the less energy is required for refining. This is far more complex than with conventional glass or plastic sorting. Over 100 defined scrap groups lead to an optimization of the alloying elements in the steel melts. And this in turn saves resources and protects the environment because fewer metals have to be mined. A positive cycle. 

Further optimizations are achieved through the denomination and "cleanliness" of the scrap. Using these parameters, the energy requirement in the steelworks for a steel melt has been continuously reduced. In this way, one piece of the puzzle fits into another to permanently reduce CO₂ emissions.

DEW works closely with customers and helps to return scrap directly from the customer to the scrap cycle with individual scrap concepts.