Quarzwerke Frechen: Green Sand for the Foundries of Tomorrow 22. October 2025

The commitment is having impact – but how is it perceived in the industry?

Quarzwerke actively communicates its sustainability strategy and substantial investments in renewable energies – through customer dialogue, social media, corporate channels, and press relations. The goal is to offer customers worldwide raw materials with a lower CO₂ footprint, thereby contributing to the sustainable transformation of industry. As a company positioned at the beginning of the value chain, Quarzwerke sees itself as bearing particular responsibility – and this is regularly recognized: among others, with the EcoVadis Gold Rating 2025, the Solar Prize 2022, and the Sustainability Award of the MIRO Industry Association 2024.

The CO₂ footprint has already been verified at plant level – including Scope 3 emissions. Initial product-related figures are available, currently undergoing legal review, and will soon be officially published.

Customers, particularly from the foundry industry, are responding positively to these sustainability initiatives. Nevertheless, cost reduction currently remains the main focus in many cases, while the use of certified low-CO₂ raw materials is increasing more slowly. The same applies to sand regeneration, which is primarily used when it offers clear economic advantages for the foundry.

With its so-called “green sand,” however, Quarzwerke is pursuing a clear future strategy: the company aims not only to strengthen existing customer relationships but also to prepare for new markets. Flexibility is crucial – as Quarzwerke wants to be able to supply CO₂-reduced products as soon as market demand arises. Or, as the company puts it: “We want to provide our customers with tomorrow’s product today.”

To further accelerate the expansion of renewable energy in Germany, Quarzwerke identifies bureaucratic and infrastructural obstacles as key bottlenecks. Overburdened grid operators, lengthy approval procedures, and insufficiently developed power grids delay many projects. In addition, extensive environmental assessments, particularly in species protection, and the limited building privileges for photovoltaic systems in rural areas pose further challenges.

A particular hindrance concerns floating PV systems: the current 15% coverage rule and 40-meter shoreline distance under the Water Resources Act (WHG) significantly restrict expansion potential – even though scientific studies, partly conducted in cooperation with the NRW Ministry of the Environment, show that such systems have no negative impact on water quality, flora, or fauna. Especially on extraction lakes, of which Quarzwerke has many, floating PV systems could therefore represent a space-saving and forward-looking solution for the energy transition.

About Quarzwerke Group

The Quarzwerke Group is an independent family company with 140 years of experience in the extraction, processing and refining of industrial minerals. Our product portfolio includes not only the raw materials quartz, kaolin or feldspar but also the product development. Our main locations are in Germany and Central Europe. As a reliable partner of our customers, we want to achieve long-term value with responsible and motivated employees and in the perception of our social and ecological responsibility.