Rothe Erde
Rothe Erde
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Global Recycling Day 2026: Thinking environmental protection globally and implementing it locally
Environmental protection is a global challenge that we can only overcome together. At Rothe Erde, we therefore pull together worldwide – even if our approaches may differ from site to site. For Global Recycling Day 2026, our international locations demonstrate just how diverse sustainable practices can look around the globe.
China – XREB: Heat, water and energy in a closed loop
Xuzhou Rothe Erde Slewing Bearing (XREB) relies on intelligent energy use. Since 2016, our colleagues have been using waste heat from air compressors through a dedicated recovery system to provide hot water for showers for around 1,500 employees each day. As a result, XREB saves more than 3,000 tons of CO₂ annually.
XREB also uses circular systems for water: Since early 2025, condensate from the steam system has been collected and reused for cleaning and production processes. This saves the plant around 3,000 tons of fresh water every year.
China – XREM: Circular system for transport packaging
In China, our colleagues at thyssenkrupp rothe erde (Xuzhou) Ring Mill (XREM) have operated a system since 2023 for reintroducing reusable pallets into the shipping process. XREM ships its rings on heavy wooden pallets. Recipients sort out the reusable ones and store them until they reach an agreed quantity. XREM then organises the return transport, allowing the pallets to be used again for future shipments. This reuse system significantly reduces the need for new pallets and conserves valuable resources.
Another important topic at XREM – as in all Rothe Erde companies – is the reduction of material usage, particularly steel. During the machining of raw material, waste is inevitably generated. Reducing this waste is an ongoing project and also a significant cost factor. To put it into perspective: for a specific type of ring, the team succeeded in saving around 25% of raw material through new production processes, material that would otherwise have been consumed. For this type of ring, that equates to roughly 2 tons per piece.
Slovakia – thyssenkrupp rothe erde Slovakia: sorting, reusing, recovering
Our Slovakian location focuses on three key areas: improved sorting, creative reuse and efficient material recovery.
New sorting stations and a “recycling train” that collects waste directly from workplaces have significantly increased the site’s recycling rate over the last four years. At the same time, employees collaborate with a local vocational school on an upcycling project that transforms old wooden pallets into garden furniture.
Another important sustainability measure is the processing of grinding sludge. Since 2025, colleagues have used a special press to separate the sludge into solid and liquid components. The solid components contain valuable metals and are either reused as secondary raw material in production or transferred more easily into other recycling processes in briquette form.
The liquid component consists of reusable coolant emulsions, which are returned to the cooling circuit.
The recycling figures for 2025 at Rothe Erde Slovakia: Employees recycled, among other materials, 130 tons of wood, 14 tons of paper and an impressive 5,000 tons of metallic waste.
India – Rothe Erde India: Water, coolant and metal in a closed loop
India – Rothe Erde India: Water, coolant and metal in a closed loop
Rothe Erde India follows an approach that keeps water and raw materials within the system as much as possible. Since 2023, the company has been filtering and reusing coolant. Around 100,000 litres of used coolant per month are returned to the machines, saving approximately 2,000 litres of fresh water per day.
In parallel, Rothe Erde India has operated its own wastewater treatment system since 2014, saving around 25,000 litres of fresh water each day. After treatment, the water is reused for toilets and green areas.
Metal production residues have been intelligently recycled in India since 2022: A chip-handling plant crushes long, bulky metal chips into compact, easy‑to‑transport pieces, reducing their volume by around 80 percent. Up to 18 tons of recyclable metal are sent to authorised recyclers every day.
Since 2025, oily cotton wipes have also been compacted and used as alternative fuel in cement factories. Compression reduces their volume by around 70% and has cut the number of required transport trips roughly in half.
Spain – Rothe Erde Spain: cleaning cloths in a circular system
Spain – Rothe Erde Spain: cleaning cloths in a circular system
thyssenkrupp rothe erde Spain relies on a classic yet highly effective circular system: The company collects oil‑soaked cleaning cloths and has them cleaned by a specialised service provider. This allows the cloths to be reused. The process significantly reduces hazardous waste and the consumption of disposable materials.
Italy – In Italy, awareness is growing
With the Green Week initiative launched in 2024, thyssenkrupp rothe erde Italy aims to raise employee awareness regarding the responsible use of energy and resources – with measurable results.
Simply by using the hall lighting more consciously, electricity consumption for lighting was reduced by up to 15%. Employees also cut gas consumption in offices and the canteen by 25% and water consumption from the municipal supply by 8%.
The Italian initiative clearly demonstrates how even small behavioural changes in everyday work can have a major impact.
Together toward a more sustainable future
Whether it's energy efficiency, water treatment, recycling processes, or conscious behavior in everyday working life, our companies around the world demonstrate the wide range of levers we can use to work more sustainably. They also show that environmental protection is an ongoing issue and not a one-off project.