At an event to conclude the FutuRaM project, researchers delivered the results of the most comprehensive assessment to date of Europe’s urban mine. FutuRaM is a research project funded by Horizon Europe in collaboration with the Swiss Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research and UK Research and Innovation. The survey revealed that recovery systems could enable Europe to recover 4.1 to 5.7 million tons of critical raw materials (CRMs) annually by 2050. It was reported that this could cover up to 56 percent of Europe’s demand for CRMs while avoiding up to 273 million tons of CO2 equivalent emissions per year.
Urban mines are materials stocks and waste streams containing a vast, underutilized reservoir of metals and minerals essential for clean energy, digital technologies and modern industry. The FutuRaM project involved a comprehensive mapping of 42 critical elements embedded in discarded products, industrial residues and demolished infrastructure across the EU27+4 (European Union, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Iceland and Norway). The project data is now available via the digital tool urbanmineplatform.eu, which helps visualize the availability of secondary raw materials across Europe’s waste streams. Together with the FutuRaM final report, the platform offers a detailed guide to secondary raw materials for the EU27+4 countries.
According to the statement, the recovery systems could enable Europe to recover tonnes of CRMs annually "with primary substitution potential ranging from up to 33 percent under business-as-usual conditions, up to 47 percent with improved recovery systems and 56 percent under a circular economy scenario, if the quality of secondary raw materials can substitute for primary”. This could reduce European reliance on imported materials and strengthen supply security for key technologies.
To realize this potential, the viability of recycling projects in Europe must be improved. In addition, investment is needed in better waste sorting and mechanical treatment or dismantling as well as in innovative recycling technologies. ce/nta