Volkswirtschaftliche Bedeutung der Stahlschrottrecyclingwirtschaft
Economic Significance of the Steel Scrap Recycling Industry
Studie im Auftrag der Bundesvereinigung Deutscher Stahlrecycling- und Entsorgungsunternehmen e.V.
Dezember 2025
Steel is a key raw material for numerous industrial sectors in Germany and Europe. At the same time, achieving the goals of a circular economy increasingly requires the establishment of closed-loop systems for steel in order to conserve resources and reduce CO2 emissions. These developments have led to (stainless) steel scrap becoming a key sustainable resource for the German and European economies and acquiring central economic significance for numerous sectors and the economy as a whole. Against this backdrop, the RWI examined the economic significance of the steel scrap recycling industry for Germany and Europe. The study examines the economic significance of the steel scrap recycling industry in Germany and Europe across its various dimensions. Find the project report's full text in English here: https://rwi-essen.de/fileadmin/user_upload/RWI/Publikationen/RWI-Untersuchungen/EN_Steel_Recycling_Study_final.pdf