The role of industrial actors in the circular economy for critical raw materials: a framework with case studies across a range of industries

Abstract

In this article, we explore concrete examples of circularity strategies for critical raw materials (CRMs) in commercial settings. We propose a company-level framework for systematically evaluating circularity strategies (e.g., material recycling, product reuse, and product or component lifetime extension) in specific applications of CRMs from the perspectives of specific industrial actors. This framework is applied in qualitative analyses—informed by relevant literature and expert consultation—of five case studies across a range of industries: (1) rhenium in high-pressure turbine components, (2) platinum group metals in industrial catalysts for chemical processing and oil refining, (3) rare earth permanent magnets in computer hard disk drives, (4) various CRMs in consumer electronics, and (5) helium in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines. Drawing from these case studies, three broader observations can be made about company circularity strategies for CRMs. Firstly, there are multiple, partly competing motivations that influence the adoption of circularity strategies, including cost savings, supply security, and external stakeholder pressure. Secondly, business models and value-chain structure play a major role in the implementation of circularity strategies; business-to-business models appear to be more conducive to circularity than business-to-consumer models. Finally, it is important to distinguish between closed-loop circularity, in which material flows are contained within the “focal” actor’s system boundary, and open-loop circularity, in which material flows cross the system boundary, as the latter has limited potential for mitigating material criticality from the perspective of the focal actor.

Progress in Sustainable Recycling and Circular Economy of Tungsten Carbide Hard Metal Scraps for Industry 5.0 and Onwards

“…The aim is to adopt a holistic and highly flexible approach to recycling, encompassing not only tungsten but also other valuable elements, such as tantalum (Ta), cobalt (Co), and nickel (Ni). By broadening the focus beyond tungsten, the goal is to maximize the recovery and utilization of incorporated valuable elements throughout the recycling process [81,84,137]. The state of the art in tungsten circularity within industries encompasses various practices aimed at promoting resource efficiency, recycling, and its economy; however, the current industry is extremely dynamic and continually evolving as new technologies, policies, and practices emerge.…”

“…Secondly, the exploration of novel processing technologies can provide alternative and more efficient avenues for tungsten carbide recycling [38,108,140,141]. Thirdly, the implementation of incentives and policies that incentivize the utilization of recycled tungsten carbide across diverse applications can foster a resilient market for recycled materials and encourage their widespread adoption [30,39,74,81,82,84,131]. Lastly, fostering collaboration among industry stakeholders and facilitating knowledge exchange can address common challenges and facilitate the integration of circular economy principles within the tungsten carbide sector [27,77,81,142].…”

“…They also improve the recovery rates of tungsten from ore, reducing the need for further extraction. On the other hand, a strong emphasis on the supply chain transparency in tungsten recycling should be made, which involves tracing the origin of tungsten-containing recyclate and ensuring their compliance with ethical and environmental standards [31,38,84,150]. Transparent supply chains help prevent the use of conflict minerals and promote responsible sourcing practices.…”

Recycling and circular economy—towards a closed loop for metals in emerging clean technologies

“…Industry can make use of circular strategies and appropriate business models to mitigate supply risk for (critical) raw materials (Tercero Espinoza et al 2020 ; Cimprich et al 2022 ).…”

Heterogeneous Catalysis and Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) for Environmental Protection (VOC Oxidation, Air and Water Purification)

“…The developments of eco-friendly catalysts and unconventional photocatalysts, not based on TiO 2 , which can also represent possible solutions to the crisis of the raw material exportation [5] was also explored in two other papers of this Special Issue [6,7]; the good catalytic, photocatalytic, and phothermo-catalytic properties of MnO x -ZrO 2 are presented, making these composites a promising future choice, as an example of an economical, notcritical, and high-performing catalyst applied for the removal of some dangerous VOCs such as toluene.…”