What is the essential material? Kokkola produces the metal of the future

Boliden Kokkola is a world-class zinc plant and a leader in its field in many areas. This is evident in the foundry’s clean and automated work environment, where some of the world’s highest-quality zinc products are produced for customers.

Before the foundry, there is a multi-stage chemical process that, thanks to decades of experience, has been developed to such an advanced level that Kokkola can produce even the special high-purity zinc required by the battery industry. Reportedly, only a few other zinc plants in the world can achieve this level of purity.

In addition to the high quality of its products, the Kokkola zinc plant is known for its excellent energy efficiency. Thanks to efficient energy use, an electrified production process, and the availability of renewable energy in Finland, the plant can now also produce low-carbon zinc, which has a significantly lower climate impact than average. On the market, the product is sold as Low-Carbon Zinc.

“The carbon footprint of low-carbon zinc is one kilogram per kilogram of zinc produced, while the industry average is 3.6 kilograms. The calculation covers the entire production chain’s CO₂ emissions, starting from the mines,” explains laboratory manager Måns Jungar.

In addition to his main role, Måns is responsible for zinc sales to domestic hot-dip galvanizing customers and is therefore well aware of market trends.

“Customers are increasingly interested in the climate impact of their products, which bodes well for the demand for this new product quality,” he says.

Alongside low-carbon zinc, Boliden Kokkola also produces low-carbon sulfuric acid.

“Sulfuric acid is a by-product of zinc production. Since Boliden Kokkola’s production process uses hardly any fossil fuels, the carbon footprint of the sulfuric acid produced here is significantly lower than the EU average,” says Janne Lovén, who is the sales manager for sulfuric acid in the group.

Aiming to further reduce climate impacts

The low-carbon metals and by-products introduced to the market in this decade demonstrate Boliden’s goal to be the world’s most climate-friendly and valued metals producer.

In the future, the share of low-carbon products in total production is intended to be further increased, which is why the group’s mines and production facilities are constantly seeking new ways to reduce CO₂ emissions. This also supports customers’ efforts to reduce the overall emissions of their products.

“At Boliden, the calculation of the carbon footprint is based on actual emissions and does not include calculated offsets or compensations. In this, too, Boliden wants to be a pioneer and a trendsetter,” Måns and Janne point out.

It would benefit customers and consumers if a transparent method for calculating climate emissions became the industry standard, making manufacturers’ data comparable.

Pride in products and responsibility

Talking with Måns and Janne, it becomes clear that they are proud of the plant’s products. Zinc multiplies the lifecycle of steel products and is an essential material for the green transition. Sulfuric acid, in turn, is the world’s most widely used industrial chemical, utilized in virtually all industries.

Low-carbon products, as well as those made from recycled materials introduced to the market at the same time, are strong evidence that Boliden wants to promote responsibility throughout the industry.

Responsibility is not limited to Måns’s and Janne’s work tasks. It also comes up in coffee table discussions and with their own children.

“Today’s youth are environmentally conscious. It would be great if we could also convey to them the message about zinc’s important role in the green transition—and that we produce it responsibly,” Måns hopes.