A European Union-funded research programme, FutuRaM, examines how waste streams could become an alternative source of strategic materials for electric vehicles, renewable energy systems and advanced manufacturing. The study links the potential of Europe’s “urban mines” to materials recovered from used batteries, end-of-life vehicles and electronic waste. It also frames recycling as a way to reduce reliance on imported raw materials shaped by global supply chains.
The report’s outlook is presented as a supply-security issue tied to the clean energy transition. It says better use of secondary raw materials could strengthen supply security and reduce environmental pressure from new mining. It also connects the approach to industrial decarbonisation goals in Europe.
Recycling targets materials used in EVs and renewable power
The analysis highlights that several critical inputs used in EV batteries, wind turbines and solar panels are currently refined and processed outside Europe. Recycling is described as a pathway for reducing dependence on those imported resources. The study also points to recovery systems as a key factor for improving material availability from waste.
Kees Baldé, a senior researcher at the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and one of the report’s authors, is cited on the need to unlock Europe’s waste potential. He said improving recovery systems is essential for sustainability and long-term economic resilience. The findings are positioned around turning waste streams into usable secondary raw materials.
EU waste management fragmentation affects recovery efficiency
The FutuRaM study calls for restructuring Europe’s waste management system to improve critical material recovery. It states that EU countries currently track and process critical waste streams inconsistently. This fragmentation, according to the report, limits the efficiency of material recovery across the region.
The research recommends expanding recycling infrastructure, improving industrial processing capacity and strengthening workforce skills. It also calls for increased public awareness of material recovery opportunities. The report warns that without coordinated action, valuable material potential could be lost during collection and processing.
Supply chain concentration and China’s role in refining
The report situates Europe’s recycling push within global supply chain concentration. The International Energy Agency (IEA) is cited as saying China controls production and refining of 19 out of 20 critical minerals needed for modern technologies, including those used in electric vehicle motors and battery systems.
It also notes that geopolitical tensions have resulted in export restrictions on certain rare earth elements and battery-related materials. The IEA warning referenced in the study links such restrictions to higher production costs and potential effects on the affordability of EVs and energy storage technologies in Europe and the United States.
China’s position extends to recycling infrastructure, with the report stating China accounts for around 80% of worldwide recovery capacity for key materials. In 2024, it says China strengthened its position through creation of the China Resources Recycling Group, described as a state-backed entity focused on scaling up domestic mineral recovery.
Scenario modelling to 2050: baseline waste volumes rise
The FutuRaM report models recycling outcomes under three scenarios leading to 2050: business-as-usual, an improved recovery system, and a fully circular economy with effective reuse of most secondary materials. The baseline year is given as 2022. In that year, European waste streams contained approximately 2 million tonnes of critical minerals.
The study projects that figure could increase substantially by 2050, reaching up to 6 million tonnes annually. It specifies coverage across the EU plus Switzerland, Norway, the United Kingdom and Iceland. It attributes current losses largely to collection gaps or inefficient processing, particularly for lithium, cobalt and rare earth elements.
Urban mines: collected but not fully processed
The report estimates that roughly half of critical minerals in waste are already collected but not fully processed into usable secondary materials. It states that systematic recycling could cover up to 56% of total critical minerals demand by 2050 if those materials were recycled effectively.
End-of-life vehicles are highlighted as a promising source because collection rates are already high across the EU. The study says these vehicles contain significant amounts of rare earth elements and other valuable inputs used in clean energy technologies. It also notes that much of this material is still not efficiently recovered.
Policy measures tied to recycling infrastructure and data systems
The report links outcomes to policy decisions made in the present period. It says investment in recycling infrastructure, better data systems and stronger regulatory frameworks are needed to unlock secondary raw material potential. The emphasis is placed on enabling full use of recovered materials rather than leaving them unused after collection.
Pascal Leroy, director of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Forum, reviewed the report. He is cited saying Europe should treat recycled materials as a primary resource rather than a secondary option. The review also includes his warning that without a shift in approach much of the continent’s material value may continue to be lost.
Environmental research links recycling with reduced mining activity
A broader environmental reference included in the report points to a 2026 study from the University of Technology Sydney. That study found that increased recycling combined with improvements in energy efficiency could help meet global mineral demand for the energy transition without expanding environmentally damaging mining activities. Examples mentioned include deep-sea extraction or operations in biodiversity-rich regions.
The FutuRaM findings connect recycling’s role to Europe’s transition toward electric mobility, renewable energy and digital infrastructure. It states that secondary raw materials could become as important as traditional mining for securing supply chains. The report presents this positioning within Europe’s critical minerals strategy, industrial resilience efforts and environmental policy framework.
