EU circular economy policy should design out waste and recover scarce materials essential for sustainability, says research

The availability of many scarce materials that are essential for sustainability transitions in the European Union (EU) is compromised by mounting geopolitical pressure and decline of raw materials. Despite this, current EU policy means too much of these materials are lost when electronics products are disposed of. In a new policy brief, researchers from Utrecht University and the University of Messina propose a new approach to waste management that designs out waste and recovers materials most under threat.

The EU has outlined a number of “critical” raw materials essential for reaching sustainability in the EU energy, digital and mobility sectors, but there is increasing concern about their availability. “80% of rare earth elements come from China, and Palladium, vital for manufacturing semiconductors, comes mainly from Russia,” says Kieran Campbell-Johnston, co-author of the report based at Utrecht University’s Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development.

These geopolitical supply chain risks are just one side of it. There are also concerns about the long-term geological decline of some materials. Antimony for example—used in the electronics industry to make semiconductor devices such as infrared detectors and diodes—is projected to be exhausted in the next 150 years. Safeguarding materials for future generations is a key aspect underpinning sustainable development. So what does all this mean for the current state of EU policy?

Our research shows that there are holes in current EU circular economy strategy

Critical raw materials lost

Current EU policy for electronic products is intended to stimulate producers to make more sustainable products and to recover and correctly dispose of them at the end of life. However, these same policies fail to adequately integrate these critical raw materials in the product design phase and recycling practices. This results in many being lost in the waste stage.

And electronic waste is a growing problem. In 2016, each EU citizen discarded roughly 17 kg of electronic waste. Less than 50% of this was collected and recycled.

A new approach to waste management

The researchers mapped quantities and losses of critical raw materials within electronic waste processing in Italy, highlighting the unintended problems caused by EU policies “Our research outlines the current organisational flaws, and proposes concrete changes,” says Ida Mae de Waal, co-author from the Utrecht University School of Law. So what can be done?

Key recommendations from the research include:

• Integrating EU product and waste law to support the monitoring and recovery of critical materials
• Increased requirements for producers to give information on the presence and composition of their products in order for policymakers to foster short and long term product design and waste recovery goals
• Increased financing for critical materials recovery

“Our research shows that there are holes in current EU circular economy strategy - recycling policies fail to promote the recovery of the most critical materials. A new approach to waste management is needed to design out waste and recover materials with the highest risk. Changes are needed for both product and waste laws in the EU to realise this,” conclude the authors.