Our ambition is to develop eco-friendlier production processes for our plants worldwide. We do this by implementing worldwide initiatives that aim to reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions and by installing sustainable infrastructure elements in all our new plants.
Countries where Bekaert sources 100% of the electricity needs from renewable energy sources:
Prevention and risk management play an important role in Bekaert’s environmental policy. This includes measures against soil and ground water contamination, responsible use of water and worldwide ISO14001 certification.
At Bekaert we develop products that contribute to a cleaner environment. Ecology is an aspect that is already considered during the R&D phase of new products. In many cases, it is even a driving factor in product development.
Bekaert’s super-tensile and ultra-tensile steel cord ranges for tire reinforcement are examples of this. These steel cords allow tire makers to produce tires with a lower weight, thinner plies, and lower rolling resistance. This revolution enables a 15% reduction in total tire weight, thereby reducing the CO2 emissions of a vehicle by 250kg, which is equivalent to a global reduction of 850 million kg of CO2 per year.
The Belgian Punch Powertrain Solar Team won the famous Latin American Carrera Solar Atacama race in Chile.
The steering system of their solar car, built by a team of KU Leuven University students, has an advanced cord from Bridon-Bekaert Ropes Group inside.
The solar race is considered the most extreme of its kind, both in terms of the race itself and the weather conditions. In total, 2 577 km were covered from the capital Santiago to Arica in the north of the country. The route took in summits in the Andes some 3 430 meters above sea level, and the Atacama Desert. The skillful navigation of the solar car was one of the critical elements in this successful race and was made possible by the advanced cord in the steering module.