Zamak can now be recycled at scale and carbon footprint accounted for
Segede, a French company that specialises in metal closures for luxury products, has worked hard behind the scene to account carbon footprint of zamac and create a recycling stream - at scale - to allow for integration into the Recyclable Material in the new European Packaging Directive.
Ecoinvent has published its final data confirming the real carbon impact of recycled zamak. Further announcements will follow regarding the recyclability of zamak and the milestones imposed by the PPWR legislation.
Ecoinvent’s official statement is clear: the carbon impact of zamak shifts from approximately 2,400 kg of CO₂/tonne (an incorrect figure initially communicated by ADEME due to a lack of field data) to less than 671 kg, based on an assumption of 10% virgin material incorporated. This 10% is a precautionary average. Ecoinvent specifies: “In 2024, a minimum of 7% primary zinc was necessary to ensure technical feasibility and meet ingot quality requirements. This minimum is expected to decrease in the future.” It is worth noting that Segede already processes zamak ingots made from 100% recycled material, without any loss of quality.
Zamak Gains Recognition Within the PPWR Framework
As the packaging world undergoes profound transformation (especially following the European Union’s decision to accelerate the transition to a more “circular” economy) brands are compelled to evolve under regulatory pressure, particularly the PPWR. They must calculate the carbon impact of all packaging placed on the market, ensure that all materials used are technically recyclable, and verify that the products have an operational recycling stream in Europe. As of today, only plastics are required to include a minimum percentage of recycled material, which is not the case for metals.
To support Life Cycle Assessments (LCA), major carbon databases such as Ecoinvent, as well as ecodesign tools like SPICE, have documented the materials most exposed to regulatory scrutiny. Due to the lack of sector representation and its perception as a niche material in packaging, zamak had, until now, no reliable LCA data regarding its carbon impact or recyclability. In the absence of structured data, the market was led to believe that zamak had both a high carbon impact and low recyclability.
The CEN (European Committee for Standardisation), for its part, confirms that zamak is recyclable within the European market, validating its use in packaging under the PPWR framework. While its official publication is scheduled for 2028, these conclusions will already influence public stances and help formalize the recyclability of zamak, securing material decisions for development teams.
Segede Takes Action for the Zamak Industry and Supports Brands
Fully aware of the challenges and needs of the sector, SEGEDE has positioned itself as a key player in defending zamak, acting as a bridge between field-collected data and the work conducted by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) within the PPWR framework.
Understanding that brands aim to increase the share of recycled material in their packaging , beyond regulatory obligations, the company is committed to supplying them with the maximum possible percentage of recycled content.
Segede maintains transparent discussions with brands and continues its efforts toward ecological transition (sourcing, material traceability, etc.). This commitment is evidenced by its recent EcoVadis Gold Medal, with a score of 84/100 in the environmental category for its French production site.
