The Ecoinvent database delivers major cut to zamak’s carbon footprint

The efforts of Segede — a French specialist in metal processing and custom components for the luxury and beauty markets since 1955 — and the International Zinc Association (IZA) to provide reliable, realistic data on the environmental impact of zamak have finally paid off.

Ecoinvent’s latest update (version 3.12) addresses the inconsistencies that previously understated the value of this material, which is fully recyclable and primarily derived from recycled zinc.

Carbon footprint down 3.5-fold

According to new Ecoinvent data, the carbon footprint of zamak has been revised from roughly 2,400 kg CO₂ per tonne — an incorrect figure originally published by ADEME (the French Agency for Ecological Transition) due to limited field data — to less than 671 kg CO₂ per tonne, assuming 10% virgin raw material.

According to Segede, the 10% share of virgin material in zamak is a precautionary choice. Ecoinvent considers that a minimum of 7% primary zinc is necessary to ensure the alloy’s feasibility and achieve the required technical properties.

For its part, the French manufacturer asserts that it already processes zamak ingots made entirely from recycled material, without compromising quality.

“This recognition marks a major milestone and rewards Segede’s sustained efforts. (…) With little sector representation and its niche status in packaging, zamak has lacked reliable LCA [1] data on its carbon footprint and recyclability. In this data vacuum, the market has been led to believe that zamak is carbon-intensive and poorly recyclable,” the company notes.

According to Segede, the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) has confirmed zamak’s recyclability in the European Union, with formal recommendations scheduled for publication in 2028.

“Beyond official information, brands need more data and full transparency on our processes and products: verifying the percentage of recycled material, the share of post-consumer content, as well as the carbon footprint generated. We are therefore working on proposals to offer our clients complete traceability and enable them to choose their percentage of recycled content,” says Claire Trescartes, Business Advisor at Segede Industrie.