The growing world population, climate change, and geopolitical disruptions are major and global challenges of today. Consequently, governments and the private sector increasingly work towards responsible and sustainable development strategies to address climate change. These initiatives commonly recognize the importance of metals in the green transition, industry decarbonization, resource conservation. 

Steel is the most abundant construction material that plays a crucial role in the energy transition, infrastructure, mobility, and living standards in all regions. However, the annual cost of corrosion, estimated at US $2.2 trillion by the World Bank, is over 3% of the world’s GDP. Via galvanizing, zinc provides the most cost-effective protection for steel, decreasing overall lifetime maintenance costs and resource needs (raw material and energy) by multiplying the durability of steel constructions.  As a result, steel and zinc are closely interwoven at product level and in their recycling loops. When galvanized steel is recycled, both materials become available via mature recycling routes.

Innovations in galvanized steel production and use require flexibility and innovations. This relates to products as well as to production and recycling: Through joint projects such as the International Zinc Association’s Galvanized Autobody Partnership, both industries ensure that galvanizing technology advances hand in hand with innovations in steel production. Similarly, the durability of galvanized rebar used in concrete reinforcement provides increased safety for transportation and construction in corrosive environments (e.g., roadway deicing, offshore/coastal windfarms). The steel and the zinc sector both have developed decarbonization roadmaps. Impactful changes are under way that will result in technological changes in steel production. The zinc industry will work with the steel industry on identifying opportunities for increased recycling while decarbonizing both sectors. 

The paper will provide an overview of sustainable production, use and recycling practice for zinc in its use as corrosion protection for steel. This includes decarbonization, mitigating effects of climate change, circularity, and responsible sourcing. Examples from sustainable production at Hindustan Zinc Ltd. round off the paper.