The production of zinc generates ~3-4 tonnes of CO2 per tonne of zinc. With global production of finished zinc in 2024 estimated at 14.1Mt, this gives the industry a carbon footprint of roughly 42-56Mt of CO2.
This is expected to increase in the short term, as AME forecasts finished zinc production to grow 2.4% on-year to 14.5Mt in 2025 and a further 2.1% to reach 14.9Mt in 2026.
Zinc, however, has a relatively low
carbon footprint compared to other metals. Copper production emits 4.1tCO2e per
tonne, while aluminium production generates over 15tCO2e per tonne. Nickel
production is even higher, emitting between 20t to 70t CO2 per tonne, depending
on the deposit type and processing methods.
Zinc is inherently recyclable and
uniquely does not lose any integrity to its value, physical or chemical
properties through the recycling process. Up to 95% of all zinc in products
used in construction are recycled, with 30-40% of all current zinc production
coming from recycled, or secondary, zinc sources.
Around 240-250Mt of zinc are
currently in use globally, known as the anthropogenic stock, and this will
become available for recycling in the future. Between 2010 and 2018 zinc
recycling doubled, partly because of increased regulations and enforcement to
promote EAF dust recycling in Europe, North America, and China.