Sustainable Environmental Strategies at Diehl Metall: Recycling, Decarbonization, and Circular Economy

Environment

Fokus on recycling
Focus on decarbonization
Focus on environmental management
Fokus on REACH

RECYCLING AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR PRODUCTION PROCESSES

Recycling is a core pillar of the sustainability strategy at Diehl Metall. Across our entire value chain, we pursue one clear objective: to return materials to the production cycle as completely as possible, conserve primary raw materials, and significantly reduce CO₂ emissions.

Copper – A Key Material with Exceptional Recycling Potential

Metals are indispensable for sustainable technological progress. Demand continues to grow – driven by the energy and mobility transition as well as digital transformation.

In our strategic business segment Diehl Brass Solutions, copper plays a central role in the production of semi-finished products. It is one of the most sustainable industrial materials available:

Copper can be recycled infinitely without any loss of quality.
Around nine million tons of copper are recycled worldwide every year.
Approximately 80% of all copper ever produced is still in use today.

Brass, one of the most important copper alloys, combines versatile material properties with excellent recyclability – making it indispensable in numerous applications.

Consistent Copper Recycling at Diehl Brass Solutions

At Diehl Brass Solutions, copper recycling is systematically integrated into our production processes:

~90% of the metals used are secondary materials.
Chips and processing scrap generated at our customers’ sites are fully returned and reintegrated into production.
Recycling copper requires only 15% of the energy compared to primary extraction from mining.

This significantly reduces energy consumption and CO₂ emissions while conserving valuable natural resources.

Process-Integrated Gold and Silver Recycling

At Diehl Metal Applications (DMA) in Berlin, we also focus on the efficient recovery of precious metals during electroplating processes.

Gold and silver coatings are applied with precision – and recycled directly within the production cycle:

Trace amounts of gold and silver remaining in rinse water are recovered through on-site wastewater recycling systems.
Residual particles are processed into compressed electroplating sludge following wastewater treatment.

Closed Precious Metal Cycles Through Strong Partnerships

The electroplating sludge is transferred to a specialized recycling partner. In a multi-stage process, the precious metal residues are converted into artificial ores (concentrates) and refined to recover the metals.

This closed-loop approach delivers measurable impact:

In 2025, the process saved 13,432 tons of raw ore, contributing substantially to CO₂ reduction and resource conservation.

Decarbonization is a particularly important item on our agenda. As an industrial company, we can make a significant contribution here and assume our responsibility in the fight against climate change.

Every year, we determine the carbon footprint of our global production sites in accordance with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol). In accordance with the GHG Protocol, three scopes have been defined, which include direct emissions from production (Scope 1), indirect emissions from purchased energy (Scope 2) and emissions in the company's upstream and downstream value chain (Scope 3).

We want to gain clarity about the various sources of emissions both in our production processes and in our value chain so that we can derive optimization opportunities. In addition, we thereby create transparency with regard to the environmental impact of our company in the direction of our external as well as internal stakeholders. The exchange of information with our customers and suppliers, as well as informing our employees, creates joint involvement and solutions.

Scope 1 and 2 contain production-related emissions. These are caused, for example, by the operation of our production facilities with fuels and electricity, by cooling processes, the heating of buildings, the lighting of our production halls or the operation of our company vehicle fleet.

We can have a direct influence on this. To this end, we have set targets in the direction of CO₂-neutral production for Diehl Metall.

As a company, we are committed to the 1.5 degree target of the Paris Climate Agreement and now want to make a contribution against climate change with our science-based targets for Scope 1 & 2. Therefore, we have used the criteria of the Science Based Targets Initiative to define the 2030 target.

To achieve the targets, we have already launched several exciting projects and will initiate many more in the future. One example is the "DBS goes green" project: Here, the strategic business unit Diehl Brass Solutions is taking various measures matching the levers of energy efficiency, energy procurement and own power generation. These contribute to preparing the energy-intensive production at the foundry in Röthenbach for future legal requirements and to making our business fit for the future.

Certified environmental management system

We take care to protect our natural environment. Here, too, we have certified management systems in place at our production sites. The Röthenbach site, for instance, has been certified according to ISO 14001 since 2004, and our Berlin site has had EMAS (Eco-Management and Audit Scheme) certification since as far back as 1996. In Brazil, we have been certified according to ISO14001 since 2001.

Download Certificates

The environmental management system ensures that our processes are continuously checked and improved according to environmental criteria, for example with regard to resource efficiency, emissions or responsible handling of waste and wastewater generated during production processes. Thanks to this system, we can oversee the wastewater treatment and exhaust air filtration facilities at our production sites. Ideas management, OpEx teams and other expert groups have been established to identify savings and improvement measures.

Environmental protection is firmly anchored in our corporate policy, and we set ourselves fixed environmental targets, which are reviewed annually as part of the auditing process.

For interested stakeholders, we publish annually updated reports on environmental and energy management at the Röthenbach and Berlin/Teltow sites:
- Environmental Statement: Diehl Metal Applications

REACH is the EU’s chemicals regulation governing the introduction, manufacture and use of all chemicals. It serves to protect human health and the environment. The regulation is in force in all EU countries and is based on the principle of greater responsibility on the part of industry for the safe handling of its substances.

Substances subject to authorization

To protect human health, substances that may be considered of very high concern are subject to an authorization procedure.

As part of this process, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) regularly publishes proposals for identifying chemicals as substances of very high concern in the form of a “Candidate List”. In a further step, a decision is made as to whether a particular substance on the Candidate List is to be subjected to an authorization procedure and then, if necessary, whether restrictions on the use of this substance are to be expected.

https://echa.europa.eu/candidate-list-table

The Candidate List is examined by Diehl Metall following each revision by the ECHA.

As of June 27, 2018, lead metal was included in the SVHC Candidate List (SVHC stands for “Substances of Very High Concern”).

Lead is contained as an alloying element in some products of the Diehl Metall portfolio. Diehl Metall notifies its customers about such topics in compliance with the information requirements under Art. 33 of REACH.

Extensive discussions are needed to make the decision as to whether in the further course of the REACH process there will be additional restrictions on applications of lead-containing copper and brass alloys, such as authorizations for specific uses. These discussions are still ongoing. There are good reasons to argue against the need for authorization, as the risks of handling lead-containing materials are now manageable.

In the event that lead nevertheless becomes subject to authorization, there will be a transitional period of several years. Authorizations for certain uses would have to be applied for no later than 18 months prior to the end of the transitional period. It is to be assumed that the relevant authorizations will be granted by the Chemicals Agency, especially as substitution of machining alloys containing lead is not a feasible option with the current state of the art.

Currently, no other “substances of very high concern” according to the “Candidate List” nor according to Annex XIV of the REACH regulation are contained in Diehl Metall products at levels higher than 0.1%.
Safety data sheets

Rods, tubes, profiles and wire as well as the turned, stamped and forged parts made from them are products for which there is no legal obligation to prepare safety data sheets. However, the relevant information sheets can be provided upon request.
Classification: Substances, preparations and articles

Cast billets and slabs are classified as “substances” or, in the case of alloys, as “preparations”.

The semi-finished goods made from the billets and slabs, namely rods, tubes, profiles and wire, as well as the turned, stamped and forged parts that are then processed from these are referred to as “articles”.

This classification is made according to the “Guidance on requirements for substances in articles” of the ECHA.
Waste and REACH

Metal scrap and chips are classified as waste according to the Waste Framework Directive 2006/12/EC. They are subject to waste legislation and do not fall within the scope of the REACH regulation.

The Diehl Metall newsletter is here