History

EFR was created in 1992 from COFENAF, the Liaison Committee for ferrous scrap within the E.E.C. which was founded in 1967. In 2016, EFR lost its legal personality and is now as a Branch part of EuRIC.

Benefits

The European Ferrous Recovery and Recycling Branch (EFR) aims at promoting the recycling of waste containing ferrous metals, as well as the high environmental benefits associated to it. Recycling helps saving primary resources as well  as a substantial amount of CO₂ emissions and energy when compared with primary iron production. Given the high value of ferrous scrap, recycling of waste containing ferrous metals has been taking place for centuries. EFR members perpetuate this activity through continuous improvement of the quality and quantity of recycled ferrous metals resulting from unique know-how and advanced mechanical treatment recycling processes. Ferrous scrap processed by the recycling industry are commodities, traded globally, which supports Europe’s industry as a whole to become more circular and meet the ambitious targets set by the European Green Deal.

Did you know?

Steel recycling is both resource and climate efficient.A recent study conducted by the Fraunhofer  IMWS showed that, in 2018 steelworks in the EU used 93.8 million tons (Mt) of steel scrap.  Assuming that these were solely carbon steel scrap, this quantity corresponds to a reduction of  CO2 emissions of about 157 million tonnes. This is the equivalent of the emissions released by  the automobile traffic in France, Great Britain and Belgium combined¹. In absolute, an LCA conducted with the French EPA has demonstrated that using using steel scrap from recycling  saves about 58% of CO2 emissions and 72% of energy consumption compared to the  production of primary steel².

1- Fraunhofer IMWS (2020), Scrap Bonus external costs and fair competition in the global value chains of steelmaking, Fraunhofer-Institute for  Microstructure of Materials and Systems IMWS Center for
Economics of Materials CEM in Halle (Saale) . A report for the German Steel  Recycling Association - Bundesvereinigung Deutscher Stahlrecycling- und Entsorgungsunternehmen e.V. (BDSV)
2- FEDEREC, ADEME (2017). Environmental Assessment of Recycling in France according to Life Cycle Analysis Methodology.

Objectives

The objectives of EFR Branch are:

• To study and examine all regulatory and technical matters in Europe which are relevant for the collection, processing, recycling, transport and trade of ferrous metals and alloys.
• To ensure a proper representation at EU level of EFR Branch Members’ and the ferrous scrap industry in particular with the EU institutions and with private organisations inside or outside the EU.
• To provide expert inputs on any E.U. policy and regulatory initiative which are relevant for the recycling and trade of ferrous metals.
• To serve as a network enabling Members to share best practices, in strict observance of relevant legal requirements.
• To gather, exchange and disseminate all information relevant to these objectives, in strict observance of relevant legal requirements.

EFR Branch Members

EFR Branch represents, through its members’ national associations and in some countries companies, the majority of the industry active in the collection, processing, recycling and trade of ferrous scrap across European countries.