Ships

At the end of their operational life, the vast majority of vessels are dismantled outside the EU, often in regions where environmental and social standards are insufficient. This not only raises serious concerns for human health and environmental protection, but also leads to the loss of valuable materials—particularly steel scrap—that could otherwise be recovered within Europe’s circular economy.

To address these challenges, Recycling Europe’s Ship Recycling Group (ESRG) brings together industry stakeholders to promote safe, sustainable, and competitive ship recycling practices in Europe, ensuring that end-of-life vessels are treated as a strategic source of resources rather than waste.