With a significant number of ships expected to reach the end of their service life shortly, ship recycling presents a strategic opportunity for Europe. Boosting domestic ship recycling will:

• secure a steady supply of secondary raw materials and so strengthen Europe’s industrial resilience and strategic autonomy;
• make a meaningful contribution to the decarbonisation of the EU steel and construction sectors, supporting Europe’s broader climate and circular economy goals;
• create green jobs in the recycling and waste management sector;
• align with EU environmental policies preventing the export of hazardous materials and restrict exports of waste that harm the environment and human health in third countries.