Martin van der Meer, Director of Outbound Logistics at Tata Steel Nederland, explains: “Rail transport is a strategic pillar in our transition towards lower CO₂ emissions. Driven by our sustainability goals and the need for more robust and efficient supply chains, we have significantly scaled up rail freight. This new route offers a reliable, sustainable and efficient solution with reduced Scope 3 emissions. It also saves packaging materials, as the steel no longer requires seaworthy protection, and it’s faster – within 30 hours, the steel reaches the customer.”

This initiative forms part of the mobility strategy of Tata Steel Nederland, optimising logistics in close collaboration with partners across the supply chain. For destinations in Eastern Europe, three trains loaded with steel coils will now depart every two weeks. In the Netherlands and Germany, these trains run on green electricity. The CO₂ savings result from intensive cooperation with around 50 customers, including major OEMs (automotive brands) as well as clients in engineering, construction and packaging sectors.

Find more information here on our way towards becoming a sustainable steel producer.

MCB in Valkenswaard and Tata Steel Nederland have been partners in the steel value chain for decades. Mirenka Fortuin, Director Sales and Marketing Engineering at Tata Steel Nederland, states: "With our growing Zeremis® solutions, we are on the way to a CO2-neutral, circular world together with customers. We are pleased that MCB, a long-standing partner of ours, is opting for reduced-CO2 steel and low-CO2 transport." Tata Steel provides MCB with steel coils and tubes, which MCB further distributes to various customers for a multitude of applications. Erik Spikmans, Sales Director of MCB, on the collaboration with Tata Steel Nederland: "We are very pleased with this next step, which seamlessly aligns with our sustainability ambitions. In addition to our CO2-reduced products and Wood4Wood, we are now also achieving CO2 reduction in our transports."

In addition to Zeremis Delivered, Tata Steel also offers Zeremis Carbon Lite

The reduction of CO2 emissions in the transport chains between Tata Steel Nederland and participating customers is laid down in a 'Zeremis Delivered'[1] agreement. The steel customers receive independently verified CO2 reduction statements. This major step towards the sustainability of mutual transport comes on top of the Memorandum of Understanding that MCB and Tata Steel Nederland previously agreed upon for the delivery of CO2-reduced steel and tubes.

On the way together towards clean, green circular steel

Tata Steel Nederland is transitioning to become a clean, green, and circular steel producer. By 2030, Tata Steel aims to reduce its CO2 emissions by 40% and to be climate-neutral by 2045. To achieve these goals, the company will implement various innovations such as Direct Reduced Iron installations in combination with Electric Arc Furnace technology. In addition, Tata Steel is working every day to increase steel recycling, with the aim of increasing the use of scrap to 30% from 2030 onwards.

1 Zeremis DL® is an independently verified book-and-claim solution based on CO2 reduction statements. This method is widely used in the transport sector because it enables both route efficiency and CO2 savings that are specifically allocated to a customer.

Martin van der Meer, Director Outbound Logistics Tata Steel Nederland: "As a future-proof company, Tata Steel has the ambition to make the entire logistics chain more sustainable. To this end, we are deploying a wide range of sustainability measures. We are therefore pleased that together with DB Cargo we are making the switch to green electricity for transport by rail. In addition, among other things, we are actively implementing plug-in biofuels in the transition to zero-emission vehicles such as electric and/or hydrogen-powered means of transport. We are doing this in close cooperation with our partners and knowledge institutions in the chain."

Every year, 1.2 million tons of steel goes by train from IJmuiden to production sites of Tata Steel Nederland and to customers in the Netherlands and the rest of Europe. This is largely done via DB Cargo's wagons. Nanouke van ’t Riet, CEO/COO at DB Cargo Nederland on the cooperation: “One freight train pulled by an efficient electric locomotive replaces at least 50 trucks. The train is therefore a very sustainable transportation alternative and also good for the accessibility of the Netherlands. We are pleased with the trust placed in us by Tata Steel Nederland to contribute to the further sustainability of their logistics chain."

Zero emissions in the chain

Every year, Tata Steel produces and transports an average of 6 to 7 million tons of steel to its downstream sites in the Netherlands and in Europe and to customers at various locations worldwide. Tata Steel is reducing emissions from that transport as part of the transition to clean, green and circular steel. Tata Steel aims for zero emissions in the chain as part of this, the Outbound Logistics department of Tata Steel Nederland is working daily to make the global transport network as optimal, safe, efficient and as sustainable as possible.

In recent years, efforts have been made to transport as much steel as possible by (inland) ship or train instead of transport by trucks. In 2024, more than 20% of all steel going to customers or third parties will be transported by train.

_{About Tata Steel Nederland} 

_{Tata Steel Nederland is one of Europe’s leading steel producers. The company supplies high-quality steel products to the most demanding markets, including construction, automotive, packaging and engineering. Tata Steel Nederland has sites in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and elsewhere in Europe and is part of the Indian Tata Steel Group, one of the world’s largest steel companies. Tata Steel Nederland is working on producing steel with zero carbon emissions by 2045. Green steel in a clean environment, without the use of coal.}