"With Planet Zinq, we have created a model that uses energy and raw materials efficiently and keeps materials in the cycle," says Dr. Birgitt Bendiek, Managing Director of Zinq Germany. The aim is to achieve triple zero quality - products without CO₂ emissions, waste and pollution. The basis for this is the cradle-to-cradle principle with circular product design according to the strategies Design the loop, Slow the loop and Close the loop. Zinq's piece galvanizing surfaces are Cradle to Cradle certified and designed for circularity.
Thin film process and decarbonization
The Zinq Futurium research center in Gelsenkirchen is home to technical innovations such as the microZinq thin-film galvanizing process. With a zinc layer of just ten micrometres - around a tenth of the usual thickness - zinc consumption is reduced by up to 80 percent. Since 2016, around 3,850 tons of zinc have been saved in this way. The Low Carbon Zinq programme bundles further decarbonization measures; according to the company, around 285,000 tonnes of CO₂ have been avoided since 2012.
The goal is circular surface technology
"Everything has a surface - that's a great lever for change," says Baumgürtel. The goal is circular surface technology, which is to be implemented together with customers and partners. Steel surfaces, for example on bridges, vehicles or machines, offer great potential for this.
Prize money flows into further studies
Lars Baumgürtel and Dr. Birgitt Bendiek from Zinq were presented with the prize, which is awarded by the German Federal Environmental Foundation (DBU), by Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Chemnitz. They plan to invest the prize money in two scientific studies: One examines the state of technical development, the other sheds light on the economic framework conditions for circular lead markets. Digital product passports will help to make ecological product qualities measurable and visible.