There is an increasing focus on making products last longer, reusing or mending them, or even remanufacturing them. This new concept has been branded a circular economy where the focus is on reduce, reuse, remanufacture and recycle (4Rs). The steel industry is well placed to contribute to a circular economy and is part of the solution in addressing environmental concerns for many products and services. Key properties of steel (strength, durability, magnetic properties) make steel a key enabler of a circular economy. This article outlines how the steel industry is addressing current environmental issues as well as how regulations can be utilized to generate an overall environmental improvement of products and services.