Europe: EU member states deployed 32.5Mt of steel by-products in building materials production and construction in 2024, according to newly released data from regional slag association Euroslag. 20Mt of granulated blast furnace slag (GBFS) entered cement production and 1.5Mt served as aggregates, while 11Mt of steelworks slag (SWS) served in roadbuilding and other construction applications. EuroSlag said that this, alongside all other applications, prevented the emission of 11.4Mt of CO₂ and the extraction of 40Mt of minerals. Domestic steel production yielded 19.6Mt of GBFS and 16.5Mt of SWS across the bloc in 2024. A further 38Mt of slag became available through extraction from temporary stores.
Cumulatively, circular applications of slag in the EU prevented the emission of 319Mt of CO₂ and the extraction of 1.21Gt of minerals between 2000 and 2024.
EuroSlag Chair Thomas Reiche said "Even in a difficult global political and economic environment, ferrous slag makes an important contribution to resource conservation, climate protection and the circular economy. EuroSlag will continue to work at all levels to intensify practice-orientated research and adapt national and European regulations."
