What does the circular economy mean for the metal production process? Going forward, all by-products created during the production process must be considered within the context of the circular economy. This means that dusts, slags, residues, and flue dusts must be integrated into the production lines and processes, and landfilling must be avoided. In addition, the transport of material that is either contaminated or declared as waste will be possible only to a limited extent in future, especially over longer distances and across borders.

The integration of these additional material flows while maintaining high quality standards for the product is making the field of metallurgy even more complex. Other requirements for energy-optimized and CO₂-neutral solutions further complicate the metallurgical picture. Because of the circular economy, metallurgical expertise has again become the focal point for all metal manufacturers and plant builders.