Steel Solid Sustainable!
Interview with Teresa Cosulich, Head of Marketing at Trasteel SA
Steel is one of the most in-demand products worldwide. The market is not only fiercely competitive but also volatile. Trasteel SA, based in Lugano, has long established itself in this market, extending far beyond mere steel trading with an offering that covers all needs of the metalworking industry. What distinguishes the company from others is its commitment to sustainability – and particularly to the people behind the steel.
Trasteel was founded in 2009 by a consortium of experienced entrepreneurs from the steel industry. In the 15 years since then, the company has developed into a holding company with nearly 1,000 employees and an annual turnover of 1.3 billion EUR. 'Originally a pure steel trading company, today our focus is on continuously expanding our portfolio to all areas where steel is needed and processed,' explains Teresa Cosulich, Marketing Director of Trasteel SA. 'We aim for growth and development, concentrating particularly on acquisitions.' The goal is to always stay at the top of the market, the marketing director emphasizes: 'In our market, it is essential to quickly recognize opportunities, to seize them boldly, and where possible to create synergies with companies from various sectors.'
The steel market has always been subject to fluctuations, which is why a broad setup that includes more than just trading steel is very important in our business. We are well-prepared for the future here. In the market, we are one of the leading companies in our industry, very well-known, well-connected, and as mentioned, broadly diversified. This makes us resilient.
Everything the industry needs
The portfolio of Trasteel is accordingly extensive and includes not only steel trading but also the supply of raw materials needed for steel production, in addition to graphite electrodes and refractory materials that are used in production, raw materials for the manufacture of refractory materials, and a selection of non-ferrous metals such as copper, aluminum, zinc, tin, and lead. Furthermore, Trasteel has tapped into new business fields with its venture into Engineering Solutions for the steel industry, supplying gas to metalworking companies, and trading in carbon credits (CO2 certificates), thereby now covering all needs of the metalworking industry.
“In that respect, we ourselves do not produce, but focus on everything needed for steel production and processing," emphasized Teresa Cosulich. This is also reflected in the company's international presence: Trasteel has offices all over the world; except in Switzerland, within Europe also in Germany, France, Spain, Finland, and Turkey, as well as globally in the USA, China, Argentina, Singapore, the UAE, and the DR Congo.
Strong Team for Sustainability
"The coronavirus pandemic naturally had an impact on our business," admits Teresa Cosulich, "but 2022 was also a great year for us. Everything has normalized again, and we stand solid. The coronavirus crisis has made us particularly aware of the challenges of sustainable trading. Business is not everything; it is also and especially about operating sustainably." For this reason, a team specialized in sustainability topics was assembled within the group last year, including Corporate ESG Specialist Giacomo Canu, who joined the company in December 2023. The publication of the first sustainability report for Trasteel SA is planned for 2024. "The system by which sustainable actions are regulated and assessed is strict, but absolutely necessary," says the marketing director.
"We have built a sustainability team of specialists because we are working hard on this issue and want to raise awareness of the importance of sustainable action in general, not only with reference to supply chains." This year, the ESG team commenced their work. "We first began to gather the necessary data to define the basic standards," explains Giacomo Canu. "We got 13 companies from the group on board for this project to identify these basic standards and later apply them consistently across all 140 companies of the group. It involves collecting all data concerning the environment, the social composition within the company, the average age, and the gender ratio, as well as the safety aspect.
Sustainability, as we see it, thus extends not only to environmental issues but especially to the individual himself and his value. Sustainability is therefore to be seen holistically, from a 360° perspective." This is the standard that Trasteel will apply to all its future activities. "We will make numerous investments in HR and environmental areas, such as training and development programs for our employees," gives Giacomo Canu an example. "Moreover, we are considering our own PV system to generate green electricity."
The People Behind the Steel
On the question of what makes Trasteel successful, Teresa Cosulich and Giacomo Canu agree: "It's the people who make our success possible," says Teresa Cosulich. This is exactly what is reflected in Trasteel’s slogan: "People behind Steel" – the people behind the steel. "Those who see themselves as part of something very strong work with joy and therefore better," the marketing manager is certain. "We invest in people who believe in us, who share our vision and want to stay with us." In times of skills shortages, it is not easy for Trasteel to find new employees – young people today have a different attitude towards life, in which work is not everything, and consequently a different approach to work. Nevertheless, Teresa Cosulich is also optimistic about this aspect: "We listen to our employees and talk to them about what we plan to do. Involving people and letting them participate is very important. And that is something that also makes us an attractive employer."
Staying True to Our Own Values
When Teresa Cosulich talks about the future of Trasteel, her main focus is on sustainable and healthy growth: "We have the vision to continue growing and developing, while meeting the market's requirements and creating and leveraging synergies within the group to an even greater extent than before. However, we do not want to become a multinational corporation. In everything we do, we must keep sustainability and sustainable action in mind, which means also growing sustainably while remaining faithful to our values and our commitment to quality."
For her, the company and her work within it are literally a ‘family affair’ and thus a matter of the heart: Her family is among the founders of the company. "In this sense, I have a connection to Trasteel," she says. "There is passion and dedication behind it, so my job is not ‘just a job’ to me, but much more than that. And that motivates me every day." Giacomo Canu feels the same: "I can only agree. When I joined the company, I was wonderfully welcomed and immediately embraced and integrated. The people here are great colleagues and I love what I do!"