Sustainability

Protecting our planet

The forging industry is energy-intensive by nature. High temperatures, powerful machinery, and complex metallurgical processes have traditionally relied on fossil fuels. We're fully aware of the ecological impact of our activities, and we're committed to fundamentally transforming how we operate. This transformation isn't happening because it's easy or convenient, it's happening because it's necessary. Climate science is clear about what's required, and every industry must play its part. For Setforge, this means rethinking processes that have worked for decades, investing in technologies that are still emerging, and pioneering new approaches that can serve as models for the broader forging sector.

Our vision is ambitious but achievable: become the leader in low-carbon forging. This isn't just an environmental goal, it's central to our business strategy and competitive positioning for the decades ahead.

Our decarbonization
Journey

Climate change is the defining challenge of our time. For Setforge, operating in an energy-intensive sector, this transformation is both a responsibility and an opportunity. We're investing in cleaner technologies, more efficient processes, and new ways of working that will make us more competitive while reducing our environmental footprint.

But technology alone won't get us there. Achieving our goals requires engaging all teams, from operators identifying energy waste on the shop floor to engineers redesigning processes, from logistics optimizing transport routes to purchasing factoring carbon into supplier decisions.
This is a collective effort that requires everyone's participation and ideas.

This commitment is embodied in our E-CAR program (Elimination Carbone), launched in 2021 as our comprehensive decarbonization initiative. It's also reflected in the pursuit of ISO 14001 environmental management and ISO 50001 energy management certifications across most group companies.

Seven companies already hold ISO 14001, and four have achieved ISO 50001, with rollout to all sites planned by 2030.

Our Science-Based Targets

Setting ambitious targets is one thing, ensuring they're grounded in climate science is another. By aligning with the Science Based Targets methodology, we're committing to reductions that aren't based on what seems achievable or convenient, but on what's actually necessary to limit global warming to 1.5°C. This approach provides credibility to our stakeholders and ensures we're contributing our fair share to the global climate effort.

We're committed to publishing our greenhouse gas emissions regularly and demonstrating measurable progress toward these targets, ensuring maximum transparency and accountability to customers, investors, employees, and the broader community.

Strategic decarbonization axes

Achieving deep decarbonization requires action across multiple fronts simultaneously. With the E-CAR project, we've structured our efforts around complementary axes that together provide a comprehensive approach to emissions reduction.

Some initiatives will deliver results quickly, while others require longer-term investment and development. All are necessary for reaching our 2050 vision.

Reduction of Setforge's carbon footprint

Influence and innovation

Certification and recognition

Third-party validation provides external verification of our environmental performance and helps us benchmark progress against industry standards. These certifications aren't endpoints, they're frameworks for continuous improvement and accountability. They also demonstrate credibility to customers, investors, and other stakeholders who are evaluating our sustainability commitments and want independent confirmation of our practices.

SETFORGE L'HORME: PIONEERING THE PATH

Setforge L'Horme was the first site to embark on the E-CAR journey, pioneering the decarbonization approach that would later be deployed across the group. As our flagship facility, L'Horme tested initiatives, validated technologies, and refined methodologies that have now been adopted by other Setforge companies. The lessons learned here, both successes and challenges, have informed our group-wide strategy and accelerated implementation at other sites.

Selected for Bpifrance's Decarbonization Accelerator program, Setforge L'Horme benefits from expert guidance and financial support that has enabled ambitious investments in clean technologies. Today, other Setforge sites are following the path that L'Horme blazed, adapting proven solutions to their specific contexts while contributing their own innovations to our collective knowledge base.

How we act

Major decarbonization projects implemented or underway at Setforge L'Horme include:

Industry Engagement

Decarbonization challenges are too complex for any single company to solve alone. Working in networks allows us to share lessons learned, avoid repeating others' mistakes, and collectively push for the systemic changes, in technology, infrastructure, and policy, that enable broader transformation. These collaborations help us inspire others with our initiatives while learning from peers who are tackling similar challenges.

The support of public institutions is also essential to our projects, providing not only financial backing but also expert guidance and access to cutting-edge research that accelerates our transformation. We're active members of several networks and programs working to accelerate industrial decarbonization.

Do you want to know more?

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