Rising geopolitical tensions and the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic
have intensified concerns about securing access to the critical raw
materials (CRMs) that are needed for the energy transition.
A group of
17 elements referred to as rare earth elements (REEs) are among the CRMs
for which security of supply is increasingly becoming a matter of
priority for governments around the globe. REEs are particularly
important in the production of rare earth (RE) permanent magnets, which
due to their properties are key components of green energy technologies.
While it is generally acknowledged that recycling can help mitigate
supply shortage risks for REEs, a full recycling chain has not yet been
established in the EU.
Focusing on RE permanent magnets, this study
provides a qualitative-exploratory analysis of barriers to establishing
full supply chain recycling processes in the EU. Data have been
collected through in-depth interviews with industry experts from all
steps of the magnets’ value chain as well as academics. According to our
empirical findings, major barriers include limited information about
the type of magnets included in end-of-life products, lack of recycling
targets, lack of ecodesign requirements, difficulty in moving products
across borders, lack of certification systems, high costs involved in
the recycling processes, competition with magnets sourced from non-EU
countries and missing segments of the RE value chain. (...)
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