EuRIC points at circular steel for a low-carbon, competitive European steel industry
EuRIC has published its position on the future of the European steel industry, calling for measures that promote the use of recycled steel to achieve both environmental and economic resilience.
EuRIC advocates for prioritising readily available, scalable, and cost-effective solutions to drive circularity. Recycling-based production methods, such as the Electric Arc Furnace (EAF), offer a proven pathway to reducing emissions by up to 95%—at a fraction of the cost compared to the direct reduced iron (DRI) process. Unlike DRI, which depends on the advancement of green hydrogen infrastructure, EAF leverages recycled steel to deliver immediate and impactful environmental benefits.
Circular steel, produced from recycled materials via the EAF process, supports environmental sustainability and Europe's strategic autonomy by reducing reliance on imported raw materials. Misconceptions about recycled steel availability are groundless, as studies show Europe's recycling capacity will meet future demand and figures indicate that the increase of recycled steel exports solely compensate for a decrease of EU’s recycled steel consumption.
In light of rising energy prices and geopolitical uncertainties, EuRIC advocates for greater use of recycled steel to reduce Europe’s reliance on imported energy and raw materials like iron ore. With over 100 years of experience in steel recycling, Europe’s industry is well-positioned to expand its use of locally sourced, recycled steel and enhance control over its industrial supply chain.
“A strong, circular European steel industry is a reality we can build today. Recycled steel is the most economically viable and scalable solution for Europe’s steel sector, driving a competitive, low-carbon economy. It creates jobs, strengthens strategic autonomy, reduces emissions, and boosts Europe’s industrial base”, said Julia Ettinger, EuRIC’s Secretary General.
EuRIC urges policymakers to adopt measures that unlock the environmental and economic benefits of recycled steel, currently overshadowed by costly, unscalable and not market ready technologies. Ensuring stable demand for recycled steel in the EU will drive investment, create jobs, and support advanced recycling technologies for high-quality steel.
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