A recent international-market report highlights that aluminium scrap has become a critical raw material, with demand rising sharply as recycling and decarbonization accelerate. The shift underscores scrap’s growing importance in securing supply amid tight primary aluminium markets.
👉 Source: Reuters

Summary :

Europe has set a target for recycling to meet 25% of the region’s critical minerals demand by 2030.

Aluminium is already there. The metal is infinitely recyclable and remelting it requires only five percent of the energy needed to make virgin metal, which means a much lower carbon footprint.

Scrap’s importance as a feedstock for European manufacturers has steadily increased over recent years as many of the region’s aluminium smelters have succumbed to high energy prices. The region’s annual primary aluminium production has fallen by a quarter since 2011.

The worry is that European recycling capacity is now also at risk, with European Aluminium estimating around 15% of the bloc’s recycling furnace capacity is idle for want of feed.

Article Link :

https://www.reuters.com