Outokumpu, Alfa Laval And SSAB In collaboration To Reduce Emissions At Laakso Joint Hospital In Helsinki

Outokumpu, the global leader in sustainable stainless steel, is partnering with Alfa Laval and SSAB to deliver innovative plate heat exchangers to Laakso Joint Hospital project in Helsinki, Finland – with up to 60 percent lower product carbon footprint^*. The City of Helsinki and the Helsinki University Hospital (HUS) will reform the Laakso Hospital area in Finland by 2030, and the construction project sought for energy-efficient and low-emission heat transfer solution for its new cooling system. The new equipment provided by Alfa Laval incorporates both Outokumpu Circle Green stainless steel and SSAB Zero steel to achieve significant reductions in carbon emissions and highlights the impact of cross-industry collaboration.

“The demand for green steel is expected to surge significantly within the next years. Low-emission solutions, such as renewable energy, hydrogen, and sustainable urbanization, are all depend on stainless steel. Decarbonization is not just a goal anymore – it's a necessity, requiring companies to invest and implement energy-efficient and low-emission technologies, such as heat exchangers, to accelerate the green transition. We need Nordic likeminded frontrunners such as our long-term partner Alfa Laval, and SSAB, to drive the progress together”, says Rolf Schencking, President for Business Line Advanced Materials at Outokumpu.

The installation of five Alfa Laval’s plate heat exchangers at Laakso Joint Hospital during 2025 will enable operational savings and reduced emissions in the upstream value chain.

“This collaboration serves as a model for how local initiatives can have a global impact, pushing the boundaries and scaling up the usage of low-emission materials”, says Julien Gennetier, Vice President Energy Division at Alfa Laval.

Circle Green was the first innovation of its kind on a global scale with up to 93% lower carbon footprint compared to the global industry average^**, and with a product-specific footprint calculation for every delivery. Today, more than 40 leading companies from various industry sectors in Europe and Asia are using this solution to reduce their carbon footprint.

“We have significantly lowered the carbon footprint of our stainless steel by using renewable and low-carbon energy, sourcing low-emission raw materials, and optimizing our production processes for maximum efficiency. Stainless steel is the primary material used in the core of the plate heat exchanger. Its key properties – corrosion resistance, strength, durability, and efficient heat transfer – make it ideal for this application and for the hospital’s needs. By partnering with suppliers, customers, and other industry players, we can drive innovation, optimize supply chains, and share knowledge to achieve better results”, says Schenking.

^*) Based on global average emission factors for stainless steel and carbon steel according to Ecoinvent LCI database compared with the specific claims on Outokumpu Circle Green and SSAB Zero. According to ISO 14067, considering cradle-to-grave.

^**) Global average carbon footprint of stainless steel (2024): 7 kg CO_₂e per kg of stainless steel (Outokumpu’s calculation based on data provided by CRU, worldstainless and Kobolde & Partners AB). Outokumpu Circle Green CO_₂ emissions: down to 0.5 kilos of CO_₂e per kg of stainless steel.