Partners for Environmental Progress (PEP) has awarded Outokumpu’s Calvert mill with an environmental stewardship award for its continuous efforts to minimise environmental impact.

During PEP’s annual meeting in September 2025, the organisation presented the Calvert, Alabama, team with the award for its Soft Lime Replacement Project.

Wayne Denton, director of environmental, health and safety, stated: “This project demonstrates Outokumpu’s commitment to continual improvement in environmental standards—locally in Calvert and globally.”

Outokumpu’s melt shop team trialled straight limestone in the mill’s Electric Arc Furnace, bypassing the processing step that produces soft lime.

Since being implemented, the project has:

  • Eliminated over 4kt of CO₂ emissions
  • Improved refractory life by 5%
  • Reduced gunning material by 10%

Herman Moggee, head of melt shop operations, added: “What began with scepticism quickly turned into excitement and dedication, as our team saw the real-world success of a method not commonly used in the stainless-steel industry.