Abstract
Traditionally, green technologies are associated with renewable materials, such as wood, biomass, water and earth, instead of the metals that formed the backbone of the industrial revolution - steel, copper, iron, tin and aluminum. Although at first glance it does not seem that they will play a role in the sustainable transition, in fact many of the building blocks of the circular economy would not exist without them [1] A number of European organizations are adamant that non-ferrous metals are essential for Europe’s low-carbon transition because of their central use in breakthrough technologies including clean mobility, renewable energy and batteries. Moreover, they play a significant role in the circular economy strategy launched by the European Commission in 2015. Contrary to this assertion, another one claims that the circular economy should be linked to reduced material use and waste consumption.
Highlights
The global use of minerals has been growing exponentially for a long time
The raw materials are crucial for the European Union and the European economy and they are at the heart of our sustainable future
Resource recovery as a key strategy to mitigate possible supply disruptions and to ensure resource efficiency and cyclical use. This is illustrated by the recycling of EoL (End-of-Life) battery materials, which play a key role in providing sufficient cobalt salts for production of lithium cobalt oxides for the batteries needed for hybrid and electric vehicles (EVs). [13]
Summary
The global use of minerals has been growing exponentially for a long time now. Growth rates vary but the U.S Geological Survey (USGS) statistics show annual averages of about 3% for more than a century. According to the linear economy model, raw materials are used to produce products that are disposed as waste after consumption. This concept is clearly defined as unsustainable over time and that requires the implementation of a new economic system, defined as a circular one, according to which one of the main goals of every person and company should be to mitigate the negative impact on the environment. The concept of a circular economy is entering the regulatory framework and life in Europe at an increasingly aggressive pace This need is caused by the shocking statistics that the European Union produces over 2.5 billion tons of waste a year.
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