A report unveiled by CLG Europe’s Materials & Products Taskforce and the Wuppertal Institute underscores the imperative for heightened circularity within the European Union’s critical raw materials sector. Titled “Embracing Circularity: A Pathway for Strengthening the Critical Raw Materials Act,” the document directly addresses deficiencies in the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) issued in March 2023.
Circularity, the report argues, transcends mere recycling and underscores the necessity of effectively retaining materials within the system for extended periods. Critiquing the current CRMA proposal for its inadequate treatment of this aspect of circularity, the report focuses on aluminum (bauxite and magnesium), lithium, and rare earth elements (REE), drawing on evidence-based research and industry case studies to offer actionable recommendations to policymakers.
Eliot Whittington, Chief Systems Change Officer at CISL, accentuated the potential of a more circular economy in Europe to simultaneously tackle challenges related to key materials and climate change. The report posits that embracing circularity during CRMA negotiations could accelerate the region’s progression toward climate neutrality and strategic autonomy.
Integral to the green transition, the demand for raw materials profoundly affects the manufacturing of solar panels, wind turbines, and electric vehicles. With 24 materials listed in the CRMA imported from China and concerns regarding the environmental and societal ramifications of domestic mining, the report stresses the EU’s strategic autonomy.
Advocating for a shift toward a reuse model, the report proposes that a circular economy in the EU could fortify the security of supply for critical raw materials. Prof. Dr. Manfred Fischedick, President and Scientific Managing Director of the Wuppertal Institute, champions a circular economy as a more sustainable alternative to mitigate environmental impact.
The report’s recommendations encompass a more comprehensive circular approach within the CRMA, advocating for flexibility, forward-looking infrastructure, a coherent European Industrial Strategy, sustainable supply chains, and incentives for green technologies.
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