ZINQ and ArcelorMittal are jointly promoting solutions for a circular construction industry: Surface specialist ZINQ and the world’s leading steel manufacturer ArcelorMittal are launching a strategic partnership for CO₂-reduced and recyclable steel products. The aim is to jointly bring the combination of XCarb® steel and ecoZINQ® surface to market as a CO₂-optimized solution certified according to Cradle to Cradle standards, thereby promoting the use of circular-quality building materials in the construction industry – transparently and traceably from manufacture to use to recycling.

The partnership also aims to create a common understanding of the relevance of transparent environmental data and thus of the ecological benefits of circular building products – from their collection within the company to their dissemination along the entire value chain. An essential part of the collaboration is therefore the development of a digital circular product passport (DCPP) tailored to the requirements of the construction industry. It transparently and comparably maps the environmental impact of a galvanized steel structure – from steel and zinc surfaces – throughout its entire life cycle. ZINQ laid the foundation for this early on: three years ago, an initial prototype for metallic surfaces was created, followed in 2024 by a collaboration with Schmitz Cargobull to develop a DCPP for vehicle construction.

 

As part of the partnership with ArcelorMittal, the product passport tool is also being transferred to the construction industry. The aim is to use the DCPP to promote the switch to circular, low-carbon materials in the construction industry. „The DCPP makes CO₂ emissions transparent throughout the entire product life cycle – based on third-party verified, standard-compliant data. In this way, we are creating the basis for sustainable decisions in the construction industry and promoting the use of circular solutions such as XCarb® and ecoZINQ®,“ says Lars Baumgürtel, managing partner of the ZINQ Group.

ecoZINQ + XCarb®: New standards for sustainable construction

The partnership between ZINQ and ArcelorMittal is creating a sustainable solution for circular construction: the combination of ArcelorMittal’s CO₂-reduced XCarb® steel and ZINQ’s environmentally optimized ecoZINQ® surface combines climate protection, material efficiency, and recyclability in one product.

ecoZINQ is extremely durable, maintenance-free, and highly resilient to mechanical stress. With a 43% reduction, it has the lowest carbon footprint compared to conventional piece galvanizing processes according to DIN EN ISO 1461. The CO2 savings are achieved through comprehensive efficiency measures as part of the Low-Carbon ZINQ program: these include the use of CO₂-reduced zinc and 100% electricity from renewable energy sources. As a circular surface, ecoZINQ is Cradle to Cradle® certified, material-healthy, and can be completely returned to the material cycle at the end of the product life cycle via a take-back program for galvanized scrap steel introduced by ZINQ.

Olivier Vassart, CEO ArcelorMittal Steligence: „ArcelorMittal is actively driving the transition to CO₂-neutral steel in the construction industry. With XCarb®, recycled and produced using renewable energy, we are taking a decisive step towards net-zero steel with consistently high performance. Through our partnership with ZINQ, we are strengthening our commitment to a circular economy and ensuring that steel continues to play a central role in the decarbonization of the construction industry. Together, we are accelerating the transition to a low-carbon industry, setting new standards for sustainability, and shaping a more resilient future for our industry.“ The starting point for the distribution of the new product combination will be the ZINQ plant in Ghent, which is located in close proximity to one of ArcelorMittal’s central sites. There, components with ecoZINQ finishing based on XCarb® will be made marketable for the first time.

Circular products need circular markets

The digital circular product passport and strategic partnerships to promote circular products are central components of the Planet ZINQ business model, with which ZINQ is driving the transition to a circular economy. Cooperation in the value chain for galvanized steel is intended to lay the foundation for circular lead markets based on the principles of zero waste, zero emissions, and zero pollution. Planet ZINQ is driving forward the climate-neutral transformation of surface technology for steel – in line with the goals of the EU Green Deal: „Together with ArcelorMittal, we are developing a circular product passport in which the life cycle footprint of both the green steel used and the circular zinc surface is calculated and documented in accordance with the EU standards for environmental product declarations already in force. Based on these standards, our customers receive third-party validated CO₂ credits. What is still missing are circular lead markets in which the decision to use circular products is also economically viable. This will be crucial in order to permanently anchor sustainable material solutions in the market,“ emphasizes Baumgürtel.