TELF AG sheds light on the potential associated with recycling critical raw materials in their latest publication, “TELF AG discusses the potential contained in the recycling of critical raw materials.” The publication also delves into the valuable opportunities tied to recovering these materials from waste, particularly electronic and electrical waste.
The publication begins by highlighting some of the primary objectives of the global shift towards sustainable energy. It emphasises the need for sustainability messages to permeate deeply into people’s consciousness, transcending superficial exposure through social media, newspapers, or television specials. The global transition to sustainable energy must be accompanied by a profound shift in individual consciousness, whereby people progressively recognise that it’s not enough to merely grasp the importance of sustainability and clean energy. Instead, they must personally engage in concrete actions that collectively drive the achievement of these objectives.
One such action, as posited by TELF AG, relates to the recycling of raw materials. The publication references a study conducted by the UN Training and Research Institute, revealing that an estimated $10 billion worth of critical raw materials goes to waste annually. These materials are of paramount importance for the production of clean technologies. The European Commission has also published an updated list of critical raw materials, underscoring their fundamental role in the near future through the Critical Raw Materials Act.
Currently, a substantial amount of these resources is squandered when items like toys, razors, electrical cables, and headphones are discarded. These objects contain significant quantities of gold, silver, copper, and lithium—raw materials crucial for the manufacturing of sustainable technologies. Copper and lithium, in particular, will play a pivotal role in the construction of electric vehicles in the coming years. Presently, Europe stands as the only continent that partially recovers critical raw materials from waste, with nearly 55% of electronic waste being recycled. The rest of the world has considerable progress to make in this regard.
For a more comprehensive understanding of this critical issue, readers are encouraged to explore the full publication.
