A European collaboration shaping the future of sustainable materials
With its Laundry brand Electrolux Professional, Electrolux Professional Group is proud to be part of CiSMA – Circular Steel for Mass Market Applications, a Horizon Europe project working to introduce 100% recycled steel into large scale industrial manufacturing. As steel remains a key material in our professional laundry equipment, taking part in CiSMA allows us to explore new ways to reduce our environmental impact while contributing to a more circular and resilient value chain.
CiSMA brings together research centers, steel producers, and industrial partners to demonstrate how recycled steel can be used effectively in mass market applications. Through this collaboration, Electrolux Professional Group aims to validate new steel grades and assess how they can help lower the carbon footprint of future laundry equipment.
Why recycled steel matters for Electrolux Professional
Evaluating steel alternatives with a lower climate impact is essential to driving progress across our product lifecycle and ensuring we meet the expectations of increasingly sustainability‑focused customers.
Improving scrap quality for high performance applications
Not all scrap is created equal. Low‑quality scrap often contains trace elements, such as copper, that can compromise the performance and durability of recycled steel. CiSMA addresses this barrier through enhanced scrap analysis and automatic separation, enabling more consistent and reliable steel production.
The project also uses advanced characterization techniques to better understand steel behavior at microscopic levels. Although this scientific work happens behind the scenes, the outcome is practical and relevant: higher‑quality recycled steel suitable for demanding, real‑world applications such as professional laundry equipment.
Electrolux Professional Group’s pilot: turning innovation into reality
The pilot focuses on evaluating material performance, assessing compatibility with existing manufacturing processes, and understanding the environmental benefits compared with current steel components.
This hands‑on testing ensures that new materials not only meet quality and durability standards but also align with our production requirements and customer expectations. This work is a critical part of our sustainability strategy. By validating recycled steel in real products, we are taking meaningful steps toward lowering our upstream emissions and supporting a more circular approach to material sourcing.
A strong European collaboration
CiSMA is coordinated by the EURECAT Technology Centre and supported by a consortium of leading partners, including Aerobase Innovations, Blekinge Institute of Technology, RISE, Tata Steel Nederland, ALBA Synchrotron, CSIC, ESTEP, the University of Liège, voestalpine, and Volvo Cars. This collaborative structure ensures that every stage—from scrap sorting to steel development and final application—is approached with deep expertise.
With its laundry brand Electrolux Professional, Electrolux Professional Group is proud to contribute the perspective of the professional laundry industry to this diverse and impactful partnership.
Looking ahead
CiSMA represents a powerful opportunity to integrate more circular materials into equipment and reduce overall climate impact. By validating 100% recycled steel in real‑world laundry applications, the initiative helps shape a future where innovation, performance, and sustainability work together seamlessly.
As the project progresses, the team remains committed to playing an active role in building a more sustainable and resilient industrial ecosystem.