A method for separating zinc from an industry product (110) is described, the method comprising: i) providing the industry product (110) which comprises oxidized zinc (102); ii) heating the industry product (110) so that the industry product (110) at least partially melts (111); iii) providing a reduced metal (120) to the industry product (110), thereby forming an interface (115) between the at least partially melted industry product (111) and the reduced metal (120); iv) providing a non-oxidizing gas (130) to the interface (115); v) performing a chemical reaction at the interface (115) between the at least partially melted industry product (111) and the reduced metal (120) in presence of the non-oxidizing gas (130), so that the oxidized zinc (102) is reduced (104) and the reduced metal (120) is oxidized (122); and vi) separating the reduced zinc (104) from the industry product (110) using the non-oxidizing gas (130).