15:42 1 June 2025
EU Boosts Critical Raw Material Independence
The European Union is accelerating efforts to secure access to critical raw materials by reducing reliance on imports, particularly from China and other third countries. Under the Critical Raw Materials Act, the EU aims to source no more than 65 percent of each strategic raw material from outside the bloc by 2030, with 25 percent coming from recycling.
“This isn’t overly ambitious – recycling is still a young industry. But Europe has vast potential to increase recovery and processing of valuable metals,” Paweł Jarski, CEO of Elemental Holding, said.
With shorter product lifecycles and growing e-waste – especially from electronics – Europe faces a metal stockpile that, if tapped wisely, could supply a significant share of its demand, Jarski added. He emphasized the need for bold, swift investments in recycling as the most secure and sustainable solution.
Critical raw materials are essential for batteries, solar panels, electronics, and defense systems, with demand surging due to the green and digital transitions.
(Newseria)
