Through its environmental policy, Vallourec aims to minimize the environmental impact of its activities at all levels, and treats the well-being of future generations as a major priority.

Vallourec’s environmental priorities focus on the optimization of resources, reducing CO₂ emissions, waste reduction and certified facilities.

Optimization of resources

A series of initiatives have been undertaken to optimize consumption of resources such as water, energy and raw materials, and to improve the conditions in which they are used. Considerable efforts have been made to reduce water consumption at all Vallourec locations, in particular by recycling water and collecting runoff. As a result, water consumption has practically halved between 2000 and 2008.

Lower CO₂  emissions

The Group is committed to reducing CO₂ emissions as illustrated by the steel manufacturing process at V & M do Brasil, which uses charcoal from eucalyptus plantations (Biomass) in its blast furnaces as a substitute for coke. As they grow, the trees in these plantations consume carbon dioxide and release oxygen. CO₂ emissions from the steel mill are offset by absorptions by the eucalyptus plantation and as a result, the overall carbon balance for the production of steel in Brazil is the lowest in the market when compared with other methods of production (i.e. electric arc furnace or blast oxygen furnace).  

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