European Advanced Carbon and Graphite Materials Association
ECGA
The European Advanced Carbon and Graphite Materials Association represents industries using and producing carbon and graphite products.
Lobbying Activity
Graphite industry urges demand-side policies in Advanced Materials Act
13 Jan 2026
Message — The association proposes a "Critical Advanced Materials" list to secure fast-track permitting. They urge the Commission to implement demand-side policies like mandatory recycled-content targets. Finally, they call for assertive trade defense measures to protect the EU market.123
Why — These measures would create a stable market and price advantage for European producers.4
Impact — Non-EU suppliers of cheaper, high-carbon materials would face exclusion via trade barriers.5
Meeting with Charlotte Grevfors Ernoult (Head of Unit Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion)
25 Nov 2025 · Exchange of views related to the proposed occupational exposure limit for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs).
Carbon industry urges mandatory recycled content targets by 2030
5 Nov 2025
Topic — This consultation explores new legislation to enhance circularity and sustainable production models.
Message — The association wants graphite included in mandatory battery recycling targets by 2030. They propose redefining waste status to simplify manufacturer take-back schemes. They also advocate mandating recycled carbon fiber usage in industrial sectors.123
Carbon industry warns stricter exposure limits threaten European autonomy
21 Oct 2025
Message — The association proposes a limit of 700 ng/m³ for harmful chemicals known as PAHs. They argue that proposed lower values are not economically viable and lack proper socio-economic assessment. The industry requests that all synthetic graphite production be treated equally under the rules.123
Why — This allows the European synthetic graphite industry to remain operational and competitive.4
Impact — Downstream users in strategic sectors face supply chain disruptions and lower reliability.5
Carbon and graphite producers demand industrial role in energy security
13 Oct 2025
Topic — The EU is revising its energy security rules to manage geopolitical risks and decarbonization.
Message — The group requests a formal role for industry in energy planning and crisis management. They seek compensation for regional cost disparities and support for long-term fixed-price contracts.123
ECGA backs 70% recyclability target for wind turbine blades
9 Oct 2025
Topic — Sustainability requirements for public procurement procedures under the Net Zero Industry Act.
Message — The group supports the 70% recyclability requirement but requests a clear implementation timeline. They also seek increased EU funding and domestic content rules to support local producers.123
Why — Mandating recyclability ensures carbon fibre remains indispensable while unlocking significant industrial subsidies.45
Impact — Non-European manufacturers face market exclusion due to proposed domestic content and resilience criteria.6
Carbon and graphite industry demands affordable power in Electrification Plan
6 Oct 2025
Message — ECGA requests fairer electricity pricing by removing taxes and non-energy charges from industrial bills. They also advocate for long-term fixed-price contracts and expanded cross-border grid capacity.12
Why — This would provide the cost predictability needed to invest in long-term decarbonisation projects.3
Impact — Global competitors would lose their price advantage if European energy costs become more competitive.4
Graphite industry urges lifecycle carbon standards for EU vehicles
2 Oct 2025
Topic — The European Commission is revising CO2 emission performance standards for new light-duty vehicles.
Message — The organization advocates shifting from tailpipe-only metrics to comprehensive lifecycle assessments including battery production. They propose a flexibility mechanism to incentivize the European sourcing of critical raw materials.12
Why — This would create market conditions that resolve scale-up challenges for European battery material producers.3
Impact — Foreign competitors with high-carbon energy grids or poor labor practices would face competitive disadvantages.4
Graphite producers demand strict rules for foreign carbon pricing
25 Sept 2025
Message — The association demands recognition of third-country pricing only if it is credible and equivalent. They also insist that electricity-related emissions be integrated into the methodology.12
Why — Stringent verification prevents foreign firms from using weak carbon schemes to undercut EU prices.3
Impact — Non-EU exporters lose their cost advantage gained from cheaper, carbon-intensive energy sources.4
ECGA demands continued free allowances until CBAM is proven
25 Sept 2025
Topic — Rules for adjusting carbon border mechanism certificates to reflect phase-out of free allowances.
Message — Free allocation must remain until the border mechanism is proven to safeguard competitiveness. The system must include Scope 2 electricity emissions in its methodology.12
Why — Maintaining free allowances prevents carbon leakage and protects profit margins for European producers.3
Carbon industry demands electricity emissions inclusion in CBAM rules
25 Sept 2025
Message — The organization argues that the methodology must include electricity-related emissions to ensure a fair comparison for energy-intensive sectors like synthetic graphite. They also call for maintaining free emission allowances until the system effectively prevents carbon leakage.12
Why — Including indirect emissions helps European producers offset high domestic electricity costs against cheaper, carbon-intensive foreign competition.34
Graphite industry urges inclusion in EU housing construction strategy
18 Sept 2025
Topic — The initiative aims to boost productivity and competitiveness within the construction supply sector.
Message — ECGA requests that the Commission explicitly support graphite electrodes as critical inputs for housing. They urge for stronger trade defenses and tariffs against subsidized imports.12
Why — These measures would protect EU producers from unfair competition and reduce their structural cost disadvantages.34
ECGA urges expansion of EU carbon cost compensation
5 Sept 2025
Message — ECGA requests adding synthetic graphite to the list of sectors eligible for compensation. They also want mandatory implementation across the EU and updated technical parameters.12
Why — Including these materials would lower costs and protect the industry from relocation.3
Impact — Already-eligible industrial sectors lose their relative cost advantage over the graphite industry.4
ECGA urges public funding for carbon capture infrastructure
4 Sept 2025
Message — The association demands that transport infrastructure costs are not the responsibility of private emitters. They call for targeted financing and revenue stabilisation to manage high capture costs.123
Why — Shifting these massive costs to the public sector prevents industrial relocation abroad.4
Impact — Renewable energy sectors lose if public funds are diverted to carbon infrastructure.5
Graphite industry urges stricter scrutiny for strategic foreign acquisitions
1 Sept 2025
Topic — The Commission is evaluating the implementation and effectiveness of foreign subsidy regulations.
Message — The association requests mandatory notification for acquisitions in strategic sectors regardless of turnover. They also demand investigations into subsidized materials imported through third-party countries.12
Why — Lower thresholds would shield European graphite manufacturers from predatory, state-subsidized foreign takeovers.3
Impact — State-subsidized foreign firms would find it harder to acquire strategic European assets.4
ECGA urges strict steel safeguards to protect graphite electrode producers
18 Aug 2025
Topic — This consultation addresses trade-related effects of global excess capacity on the EU steel sector.
Message — The association proposes setting import quotas at half of 2024 levels and applying them universally. They also demand a full block on low-carbon steel imports to boost domestic electrode production.123
Why — Stronger steel protections would stabilize domestic demand for the association's graphite products.4
Impact — Exporters of low-carbon steel lose all access to European markets under the proposed block.5
Graphite industry group opposes listing coal tar pitch as hazardous
8 Aug 2025
Message — The association objects to listing coal tar pitch in the regulation's annexes. They argue it would increase bureaucracy for a material essential to graphite production.12
Why — This would prevent unnecessary administrative burdens and safeguard the competitiveness of European graphite production.3
Graphite industry urges EU to prioritize industrial grid access
4 Aug 2025
ECGA urges domestic content rules for recycled battery graphite
24 Jul 2025
Topic — Identifying waste streams and products that have potential for critical raw materials recovery.
Message — The association proposes a domestic content requirement for batteries to mandate European recycled materials. They also request adding wind turbine blades and car bodies to the recovery list. Additionally, they seek funding to help firms certify recycled graphite against manufacturer standards.123
Why — These regulations would protect European producers from competition and secure guaranteed market demand.45
ECGA Demands Continued Free Allowances for EU Graphite Sector
8 Jul 2025
Message — The association requests the continuation of free carbon permits for the graphite sector. They want synthetic graphite included in the electricity cost compensation list. The group also opposes adding small installations to the trading system.123
Why — This would significantly lower production costs and protect their position in global markets.456
Impact — The EU's climate innovation budget loses funding when emissions permits are not auctioned.7
Graphite industry urges EU support for bio-based transition
23 Jun 2025
Message — The association requests the inclusion of carbon and graphite in all bioeconomy policy plans. They seek funding for research to develop synthetic bio-based precursors with tailored properties. They also suggest adapting existing furnace infrastructure to handle bio-based inputs.123
Why — This would help the industry reduce environmental impacts while improving the financial outlook for producers.45
Impact — The biofuel sector faces increased competition for limited biomass if material uses gain priority.6
Meeting with Heiko Kunst (Head of Unit Climate Action), Mette Koefoed Quinn (Head of Unit Climate Action)
11 Jun 2025 · ECGA outlined the economic situation faced by European producers of graphite, including global over-supply and the strategic importance of graphite as a battery component.
Meeting with Lukasz Kolinski (Director Energy)
25 Apr 2025 · Situation of the carbon and graphite industry as an energy-intensive industry and contribution to the Steel and Metal Action Plan and the Automotive Action plan
Meeting with Astrid Van Mierlo (Head of Unit Taxation and Customs Union)
5 Feb 2025 · Physical meeting - Exchange of views on the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), its scope extension and its potential implications for the European graphite industry
Graphite industry urges EU to harmonize energy and regulations
31 Jan 2025
Message — The association calls for harmonized energy prices and uniform waste rules across all Member States. They urge the Commission to streamline regulations and enforce rules to ensure fairness.123
Why — Harmonization would reduce administrative burdens and allow companies to operate more efficiently.45
Impact — National authorities would lose the power to set independent waste-to-product standards.6
ECGA urges mandatory graphite reporting in battery recycling rules
18 Oct 2024
Topic — Drafting rules for calculating and verifying battery recycling and material recovery efficiency.
Message — ECGA requests making graphite reporting compulsory in recycling efficiency calculations. They want carbon included in input mass to ensure market transparency.12
Why — Mandatory reporting would attract essential private investment and encourage innovative new ventures.3
Impact — Advanced recyclers lose funding if competitors mask inefficiency by omitting graphite data.4
ECGA Urges Graphite Inclusion in Battery Carbon Footprint Rules
27 May 2024
Message — The association requests adding graphite to the list of recycling outputs for consistency. They also propose strict data aggregation rules to protect proprietary company information.12
Why — This would protect confidential production data while legitimizing graphite recovery as a green process.34
Impact — Large conglomerates lose the ability to harvest proprietary data from competitors through their subsidiaries.5
Meeting with Caroline Boeshertz (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis)
10 Nov 2023 · Graphite supply chains, trade policy
Carbon and graphite industry demands shared EU carbon infrastructure
29 Aug 2023
Message — ECGA calls for a technology-neutral strategy including shared infrastructure and risk-sharing mechanisms. They request the inclusion of solid carbon from methane pyrolysis in the initiative.123
Why — Shared infrastructure and subsidies would mitigate massive increases in operational and energy costs.45