Recovery and recycling of green tech under the spotlight

The government has classified the supply of several key minerals vital to green tech as a national security priority, due to the volatility of global supply chains and rapidly growing demand. 

The UK’s first ever Critical Minerals Strategy, published in July, is a response to rising concerns around the resilience of supply chains for strategically important materials used in everything from electrical consumer goods to electric vehicle batteries and offshore wind. 
 
Among the 18 minerals identified as highest criticality to UK companies are: 

• Cobalt and lithium, which are used in lithium-ion batteries 
• Gallium, which is used in integrated circuits, lighting and CIGS (thin-film) photovoltaic solar cells 
• Graphite, niobium and vanadium, which are used in steelmaking 
• Indium and silicon, which are used in photovoltaic solar cells 
• Palladium and platinum, which are used in catalysts and electronics 
• Rare earth elements, which are used in magnets 
• Tantalum, which is used in capacitors and electronics. 

Global production of these minerals is expected to rise sharply by 2050, but supply chains for many of them are complex and volatile. Most are sourced from just a handful of countries, with China being by far the most dominant. Experts believe some of these minerals, such as cobalt, are no longer abundant enough to cover projected demand.  

‘We are losing forever precious and critical raw materials’ 

The Critical Minerals Strategy sets out plans to develop more robust supplies partly by accelerating the UK’s domestic capabilities to increase the recovery and circular economy of minerals in the waste stream. 
 
According to one recent piece of research, over 200,000 tonnes of business electricals in the UK are currently thrown away in general waste or illegally disposed of each year (in addition to 155,000 tonnes by households), condemning large quantities of critical minerals to landfill.  
 
Scott Butler, executive director of non-profit Material Focus, said: “We are losing forever precious and critical raw materials that the UK economy is reliant upon. These electricals should be reused, donated to those in need, or the materials they are made from recycled and used in new products.” 

Circular economy investment on the up 

Investment in circular economy solutions is catching up. Research from BDO suggests that a third of all UK investment in circular economy businesses between 2018 and 2021 focused on material recovery, refurbishment or re-use.  
 
“With ESG firmly on the agenda, it’s clear the circular economy encourages economic innovation and growth – driving disruption across all traditional sectors, and therefore creating value within those industries. The opportunities for entrepreneurs in the sector and investors looking towards it are significant,” said Rory McPherson, corporate finance partner at BDO LLP. 

‘Absolute imperative’ 

Isobel Sheldon, chief strategy officer at battery manufacturer Britishvolt, commented: “It is an absolute imperative that the UK has a clear and concise strategy when it comes to the critical materials required for the energy transition.  
 
“UK government’s foresight of creating a world-class battery cell ecosystem, from R&D to mass production, is being matched with policy to help ensure we have the right materials required to successfully produce battery cells at scale. [The Critical Minerals Strategy] is a hugely impressive piece of work, incorporating the need for localised materials conversion, where possible, and also recognises the need to create skills and train the talent of the future.”