European Standards Recognized Zamak as Recyclable
The European Committee for Standardization officially classified the alloy as a recyclable material in autumn 2025.
Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Environmental
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In autumn 2025, the European Committee for Standardization officially recognized zamak as a recyclable material. This classification supports the European Union's broader Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation efforts to move toward a circular economy.
Why it matters
The recognition encourages the use of recycled zinc, which consumes significantly fewer natural resources than primary production. This shift is essential for industries aiming to reduce their environmental footprint while complying with tightening EU packaging standards.
REAZN Group currently produces zamak ingots containing at least 93% recycled material. The recycling process uses eddy-current separators to isolate zinc components from glass waste streams.
The players
European Committee for Standardization
This organization develops and defines voluntary technical standards across various industrial sectors in Europe.
REAZN Group
Headquartered in Luxembourg, this company specializes in the production of recycled zinc-based alloys for industrial use.
International Zinc Association
This global industry group represents the zinc supply chain and monitors market data and sustainability trends.
The details
Zamak waste is processed through cleaning, melting, and alloy preparation to create reusable ingots that maintain their quality indefinitely. The industry is currently scaling capacity in response to the EU's move to transition toward a circular economy for packaging materials.
Timeline
2019: Global zinc stocks in products reached 247 million tons.
2022: The International Zinc Association published global zinc stock data.
Autumn 2025: The European Committee for Standardization recognized zamak as recyclable.
Next ten years: The REAZN Group aims to reach 100 percent recycled zinc production.
2050: Global zinc stock is projected to reach 490 million tons.
Deeper Dive
The standardization of zamak follows the requirements set out by the European Union's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation. This action marks a departure from previous waste management practices by formally integrating zinc alloys into the official framework for circular industrial materials.
This standardization will likely lead to an increase in recycled content within consumer product packaging, such as metal caps or closures. It may also lower production costs for manufacturers as more recycled zinc becomes available to replace primary raw materials.
The takeaway
Recycled zamak offers a highly efficient alternative to primary zinc, requiring drastically less water and electricity to process. As global zinc stocks continue to grow, scaling these circular recycling technologies will be critical for long-term industrial sustainability.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest developments in the Environmental sector.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Premium Beauty News.
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