How System Edström saved 65 tonnes of CO₂ by upgrading to SSAB Zero™
When introducing SSAB Zero™ steel in its dropfront shelves, System Edström reduced their weight by 35 percent, saving 21 tonnes of steel annually and cutting CO₂ emissions by more than 65 tonnes in production. A clear example of how material choices can drive measurable climate impact.
At System Edström, a market leader in van racking solutions in the Nordics, steel plays a central role in product performance and durability. But traditional steel production is also a major contributor to carbon emissions.
“We see it as our responsibility to help drive the industry in a more sustainable direction. For us, it is a given that we need to challenge ourselves today, to make tomorrow greener,” says Fredrik Lundvall, Product Development Director at System Edström.
To reduce the climate impact of its products, System Edström partnered with SSAB to upgrade from conventional steel to SSAB Zero™, a recycled steel produced using fossil-free energy with near-zero fossil CO2 emissions.
We see it as our responsibility to help drive the industry in a more sustainable direction.
“We immediately saw the potential in SSAB Zero™. It offers the same mechanical properties as traditional steel – but with significantly lower environmental impact,” says Fredrik Lundvall.
The first application of the new material was in the company’s dropfront shelves – turning material innovation into a tangible customer benefit.
Seamless transition in production
The implementation was made possible through close collaboration across the value chain, including long-time manufacturing partner Excellent.
“As a supplier to System Edström, we play a key role in making these ideas work in practice. From a production perspective, SSAB Zero™ behaves just like conventional steel. That makes the transition very easy,” says Hans Nohrlander, CEO at Excellent.
For SSAB, the partnership highlights how decarbonized steel can be adopted without compromising performance or efficiency.
“Steel will remain essential in society. The key is how we produce it – and how we reduce emissions without compromising quality,” says Thomas Petterson, Sales Manager at SSAB.
From a production perspective, SSAB Zero™ behaves just like conventional steel. That makes the transition very easy.
Measurable impact across the lifecycle
By combining SSAB Zero™ with a new, optimized design, System Edström achieved substantial environmental gains.
“We reduced the weight of our dropfront shelves by 35 percent, saving around 21 tonnes of steel annually. That corresponds to more than 65 tonnes of CO2 savings in production alone.” says Fredrik Lundvall.
The benefits extend beyond manufacturing. Lower product weight also reduces emissions during vehicle use, contributing to a lower lifecycle footprint.
Together with System Edström and Excellent, we’re proving that sustainable choices can be made without compromise.
Driving change together
The initiative has been well received by customers, who increasingly seek solutions that support their own sustainability goals. Fredrik Lundvall says that customers appreciate that together with SSAB and Excellent, they enable them to make greener choices.
Encouraged by the results, the partners see this as a foundation for further innovation.
“This project shows that sustainability works best when it’s integrated across the entire value chain,” says Hans Nohrlander. “Close collaboration ensures new materials can be implemented efficiently without disrupting production.”
For SSAB, the partnership is a clear signal of what is already possible today.
“This partnership demonstrates that decarbonized steel solutions are not a vision of the future – we are able to create that today,” says Thomas Petterson. “Together with System Edström and Excellent, we’re proving that sustainable choices can be made without compromise.”
SSAB Zero™ steel
The fossil carbon emissions in SSAB’s production of SSAB Zero™ are less than 0.05 kg CO2e/kg steel in Scope 1 and 2 of the GHG Protocol.
Read more in our EPDs