In recent years, copper has taken on growing importance within European industrial policies. Technological development, the spread of renewable energy, and digital transformation are significantly increasing demand for this material, making it a strategic resource for the development and competitiveness of European companies.
At the same time, the recycling of copper and its alloys is becoming a key factor in ensuring production continuity, reducing environmental impact, and strengthening the autonomy of the European industrial system. Today, however, Europe is facing an increasingly evident challenge: the availability of high-quality copper scrap is declining, due to the rise in exports to non-EU countries and the gradual decrease in imports.
This trend is creating an imbalance across the entire value chain, affecting companies’ ability to maintain stable production levels and to develop truly circular production models. In response to this situation, numerous European stakeholders in the sector have joined forces to develop the Position Paper for Secondary Raw Materials, a document that presents a shared position and proposes a series of concrete actions to be submitted to the European Commission.
A contribution to a shared industrial vision
The Position Paper calls on European institutions to take strategic action to strengthen the internal availability of secondary raw materials. Among the measures proposed, the document highlights the need to:
- ensure a more stable and reliable flow of high-quality scrap, essential to support the production capacity of European companies;
- increase the resilience of supply chains, reducing vulnerabilities linked to fluctuations in international markets;
- promote the transition toward a more circular production model, in line with the sustainability and competitiveness goals of the European Union;
- limit the outflow of strategic materials to non-EU countries, protecting the value generated along the European value chain.
These issues are particularly relevant for the brass supply chain, where copper is the main component and where access to high-quality recycled raw materials is a decisive factor in ensuring efficiency, continuity, and industrial development.
The role of Metallurgica San Marco
Metallurgica San Marco has chosen to endorse the Position Paper, recognizing the importance of coordinated action between companies and institutions to strengthen the future of the European copper and copper alloy supply chain. More effective management of secondary raw materials is not only an operational necessity: it represents a strategic lever to reduce environmental impact, improve the energy performance of production processes, and reinforce the competitiveness of European companies in a rapidly changing global context.
This commitment is part of a broader path that has seen MSM actively promoting innovation, quality, and sustainability for many years, investing in technologies and processes focused on environmental responsibility and the enhancement of recycled materials.
Looking to the future with a system-based approach
The evolution of the copper and copper alloy supply chain requires a shared vision and a long-term approach. The Position Paper represents an important step in this direction, providing institutions and stakeholders with a clear framework of priorities and actions needed to strengthen European industrial competitiveness.
Metallurgica San Marco will continue to actively contribute to this dialogue, aware of the importance of collaborating on a production model capable of combining growth, sustainability, and strategic autonomy.
