Steel production is an energy-intensive process using raw materials that must be mined and/or processed before being made into steel. Steel production itself, whilst also creating emissions, also creates by-products of various kinds which can be used in other products, or that must be treated in order to avoid harming the environment. Steel production also involves the use of various chemicals or other metals to give various properties to the steel itself.
Because of the complexity of the production process and the ramifications of the sector on the European economy and the environment, EUROFER works intensively on environmental issues, including in the circular economy, recycling, water and air quality, waste management, products policy, chemicals policy, raw materials and lifecycle assessment. Information about each of these areas can be found here.
Brussels, 01 December 2022 - The changes brought to the Waste Shipment Regulation are a welcome step in the right direction to ensure that environmental and social standards equivalent to the EU’s are met when waste is exported to third countries. However, significant issues remain largely unaddressed with room for further improvement, in particular by strengthening monitoring for OECD countries and by pre-empting circumvention which risks to weaken the effectiveness of the new measures, says the European Steel Association (EUROFER) following the vote of the Environment Committee (ENVI) at the European Parliament.
The success of this legislation relies on numerous related delegated and implementing acts to be released, the revision of already existing ones and their mutual coherence. The European steel industry is ready to assist the European Commission in this endeavor.
EUROFER broadly welcomes the Commission proposal for a revised Construction Products Regulation (CPR) and has identified several improvements that should be addressed during the co-decision procedure
Steel is 100% recyclable – a permanent material that underpins the economy, but also contributes to environmental goals by reducing the use of virgin raw materials and CO2 emissions.
EU products policy is an enabler to help deliver on ambitious climate goals and on aims to reduce raw material use and improve recycling rates and outcomes.
The European Steel Association (EUROFER)
172 Avenue de Cortenbergh
1000 Brussels
Belgium
Email: mail@eurofer.eu
Phone: +32 (0) 2 738 79 20
