EGGA – Galvanizing Europe welcomes the ambition of the proposed Circular Economy Act to make circularity a driver of resilience, competitiveness and decarbonisation in Europe. To deliver on these objectives, the Circular Economy Act should prioritise durability and reuse in line with the waste hierarchy.

Batch galvanising industry – circular economy in practice

The batch galvanizing industry provides the most durable form of protecting steel, by applying a strongly bonded coating of zinc metal to approximately 8 million tonnes of steel products every year.

Galvanised steel products are durable, robust and adaptable, making them a practical example of the circular economy in action. Their durability avoids premature replacement, reduces maintenance needs and facilitates reuse. When the reuse cycles come to an end, steel and zinc are recycled together in established steel recycling processes.

Simply put – optimal durability and high potential for reuse go hand-in-hand.

Our publication, Galvanized Steel and Sustainable Construction: Solutions for a Circular Economy explains how galvanisingdelivers durability, reuse and efficient recycling of steel and zinc, directly supporting EU circularity and climate objectives.

With a service life that can exceed 100 years, galvanised steel is widely used in infrastructure, including highway guard rails and railway steelwork, construction and vital net-zero technologies, notably electricity transmission towers and solar structures.  Read our case studies on reuse with galvanized steel.

Durability and reuse at the core of the Circular Economy Act

EGGA supports a Circular Economy Act that unlocks the full potential of durable, reusable and recyclable products, particularly in construction and infrastructure.

EGGA’s key recommendations for the Circular Economy Act:

• Prioritise optimal durability and reuse in public procurement and construction policy
• Scale up reuse, by addressing inertia, regulatory barriers and supporting design for disassembly
• Enable high-value metal recycling without distorting functioning recycling markets
• Promote circularity measures across all metals, not only for critical raw materials

EGGA looks forward to working with EU policymakers to ensure that the Circular Economy Act recognises and rewards materials that last longer, can be reused and are fully recyclable. The batch galvanizing industry already delivers circularity in practice and stands ready to further contribute to the development of durable, resilient and resource-efficient infrastructure across Europe.