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Policy options for the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF)
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The EF methodology should be used as an underlying approach in supporting product policies, rather
than a policy in itself.
Potential benefits of using the EF method in product policy:
EUROFER sees the need for a coherent product policy framework that supports a circular economy and sustainability, giving full recognition to materials at the design stage that are fit for circularity and support sustainable outcomes. We see a lifecycle approach in product policy as the only way to achieve this, and the EF method could provide the coherence if it is used in existing product policies that focus on different lifecycle stages e.g. design, production, use or end of life.
We believe the greatest benefit of PEF can be achieved when applied in end-product applications, rather than in the supply chain of semi-finished products. This is because the product design stage, including the materials used and other product design choices, has the greatest potential to improve environmental performance of a product, and in particular the degree of circularity achieved during the waste management of products at end-of-life.
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Strasbourg, 07 October 2025 – The new trade measure presented today by the European Commission is a long-awaited proposal to forcefully defend the European steel sector, in full respect of WTO rules, from unfair imports flooding the EU market due to massive global overcapacity. The provisions unveiled by the Commission respond to the needs of the sector and represent a real lifeline for EU steelmakers and steelworkers. The European Parliament and the Council should therefore adopt it as a matter of urgency to enable its entry into force at the beginning of 2026, says the European Steel Association (EUROFER).
Brussels, 01/10/2025
With Europe’s steel industry at breaking point, industriAll Europe and the European Steel Association (EUROFER) held an emergency steel social summit to demand urgent action. Ahead of the announced Commission proposal addressing the impact of global steel excess capacity on the EU steel market, due by mid-October, the European social partners are united in calling for robust and effective trade measures. They also insist on fast and urgent implementation of the EU Steel and Metals Action Plan, especially concerning energy prices and demand. Maintaining the level of political ambition as promised in the EU Steel and Metals Action Plan is essential to restore steel’s competitiveness and save its green transition as well as steelworkers’ jobs across Europe.
Brussels, 19 September 2025 – Following today’s meeting between Commissioner for Trade Maroš Šefčovič and a delegation of European steel CEOs on the global steel crisis and the challenges facing the EU steel industry amid massive decarbonisation investments: