core sector communique

EU Roadmap on Resource Efficiency welcomed by the European steel industry

Technology-based approach more appropriate than cap and taxes

“Identifying how to make the most sustainable use of the available resources is one of the key challenges of our time. This Roadmap has the potential to respond to this challenge”, comments EUROFER’s director general Gordon Moffat on the EU Roadmap on Resource Efficiency, presented today by the European Commission.

By emphasising design for recycling, recyclability of materials and life cycle-based decision-making the Roadmap provides the means to make the correct technology and material choices. Moffat: “Steel fits perfectly to this roadmap because the material is not only indispensible for high-tech and daily lifes products which build the basis of prosperity in Europe but it is also endlessly recyclable without losing its properties. Steel contributes significantly thereby to the long-term conservation of fundamental resources for future generations in Europe and worldwide. This is the reason why the steel industry is strongly in favour of the full life-cycle approach aiming at a closed loop of materials.”

EUROFER welcomes the balanced approach of the Roadmap. It demonstrates that technology-related measures based on Best Available Techniques or benchmarking are more applicable to manufacturing industries than price signals introduced by caps or taxes. “It is a pity that the EU’s climate change policy does not show the same sensitivity in this respect”, says Moffat.

Represented by EUROFER, the European steel industry is a world leader in its sector with a turnover of EUR 190 billion and direct employment of 360 thousand highly skilled people, producing on average 200 million tonnes of steel per year. More than 500 steel production and processing sites in 23 EU member states provide direct and indirect employment and a living for millions of European citizens.

The European steel industry is the backbone of Europe’s prosperity and an indispensable part of the European supply chain, developing and manufacturing in Europe thousands of different, innovative steel solutions. The European steel industry provides the foundation for innovation, durability, CO2 reductions and energy savings in applications as varied and vital as automotive, construction, machinery, household goods, medical devices, and wind mills.

Steel is 100% recyclable, it can be recycled over and over again without loss of properties. All the steel in collected end-of-life products is recycled, irrespective of the percentage of steel in the products. Steel therefore contributes significantly to the long-term conservation of the fundamental resources for future generations. About 45% of the total EU steel production is recycled steel scrap.