Starting in 2026, Brüning Group will supply up to 100,000 tons of waste wood annually, classified as category A II or higher under the German waste wood regulation to the new biocarbon facility Outokumpu EvoCarbon GmbH, located at the industrial port Mukran Port on the island of Rügen, Germany. The Brüning Group will thus provide the key raw material for a pioneering project aimed at the further decarbonising stainless steel production. Through the biocarbonisation process, waste wood will be converted into biocarbon, a renewable energy source that can replace fossil coal at various stages of stainless steel manufacturing.
The waste wood supplied by the Brüning Group will undergo a two-stage processing method. Firstly, at the Rügen-based EvoCarbon factory, the waste wood is heated in the absence of oxygen, producing biocarbon in a process known as carbonisation or pyrolysis. In the second stage, the biocarbon is further processed at Outokumpu’s new agglomeration plant in Tornio, Finland, where the biocarbon will be processed into biocoke pellets for the use in the ferrochrome melting process, a key step in stainless steel production.
“This project merges climate action with industrial innovation. It is for us the first time, we’re acting as a key supplier for a plant that converts biomass into biocarbon. It’s an exciting partnership, and we’re proud to work with Outokumpu – a company that shares our commitment to innovative solutions for a greener future,” explains Philip Behrens, Head of the Unit Recycling & Waste National at Brüning Group, highlighting this major milestone for the company.
A STRONG LOCATION, A STRONG PARTNERSHIP
“Outokumpu is a dedicated advocate of the circular economy. Thanks to the process technology advancements we’re implementing in our new biocarbon facility, as a world-first, we can replace conventional fossil coal in the ferrochrome melting process with bio-based raw materials, thereby extending the lifecycle of waste wood within the circular economy,” says Philip Salfeld-Nebgen, member of the management team of Outokumpu EvoCarbon GmbH.
With a planned production of around 15,000 tons of biocarbon annually, the site on Rügen offers ideal conditions. Its direct access to road, rail, and sea routes, combined with existing port infrastructure, enables efficient logistics and ensures a reliable supply chain. Brüning Group brings years of expertise in waste wood procurement to the table and will play a key role in the Outokumpu EvoCarbon supply chain. Supplying Outokumpu represents a significant step forward in the Brüning Group’s mission to actively connect circular economy principles with industrial solutions for the future.