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

Batch galvanising industry – circularity 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.

Galvanized steel products are durable, robust and adaptable, making them a practical example of circularity in action. Their durability avoids premature replacement, reduces maintenance needs and facilitates reuse. When these reuse cycles 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 galvanizing delivers 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, galvanized steel is widely used in infrastructure, including highway guard rails and railway steelwork, construction works and vital net-zero technologies, notably electricity transmission towers and solar structures.  Read our case studies on reuse with galvanized steel.

Putting optimal durability and reuse at the core of the Circular Economy Act

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

EGGA’s recommendations for the Circular Economy Act:

• Prioritise optimal durability and reuse potential in construction policy and public procurement
• Facilitate reuse by addressing regulatory and market barriers and promoting design for disassembly
• Ensure that support for circularity goes beyond critical raw materials, to include important metals such as zinc.

EGGA looks forward to working with EU policymakers to ensure that the Circular Economy Act recognises and supports materials that extend service life, enable reuse 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 construction and infrastructure across Europe.