The surface specialist ZINQ and the steel manufacturer ArcelorMittal are launching a strategic partnership for CO₂-reduced and recyclable steel products. The aim is to combine XCarb steel and ecoZINQ surfaces and jointly launch them on the market as a CO₂-optimized solution certified according to Cradle to Cradle standards. This makes the use of building materials in circular quality in the construction industry possible and transparent - from production to use and recycling.
Transparency along the value chain
The partnership also aims to create an understanding of the relevance of transparent environmental data and thus the ecological benefits of circular building products - from their collection within the company to their dissemination along the entire value chain. A key component of the collaboration is therefore the development of a digital circular product passport (DCPP), which is tailored to the requirements of the construction industry. It maps the environmental impact of a galvanized steel construction - of steel and zinc surfaces - transparently and comparably over the entire life cycle. ZINQ laid the foundations for this at an early stage: Three years ago, a first prototype for metallic surfaces was created, followed in 2024 by a cooperation with Schmitz Cargobull to develop a DCPP in vehicle construction.
Lowest CO₂ footprint
ecoZINQ is durable, maintenance-free and mechanically highly resilient and, with a saving of 43%, has the lowest CO₂ footprint compared to conventional batch galvanizing processes according to DIN EN ISO 1461. TheCO2 savings are achieved through efficiency measures as part of the low-carbon ZINQ program. These include the use of CO₂-reduced zinc and electricity from renewable energy. As a circular surface, ecoZINQ is cradle-to-cradle certified, materially healthy and can be fully returned to the material cycle at the end of the product life cycle via a take-back program for used galvanized steel introduced by ZINQ.
Recycled and green steel
"ArcelorMittal is actively driving the transition to carbon-neutral steel in the construction industry. With XCarb, recycled and produced with renewable energy, we are taking a decisive step towards net-zero steel with consistently high performance," says Olivier Vassart, CEO ArcelorMittal Steligence.
Making components marketable
The starting point for the distribution of the new product combination will be the ZINQ plant in Ghent, which is located in the immediate vicinity of one of ArcelorMittal's central sites. This is where components with ecoZINQ finishing on an XCarb basis will be made marketable for the first time.