Investing in Sustainable Recycling Strategies

From #Scrap to #Strategy: Monetizing Circular Copper ♻️ The global copper narrative is shifting — from extraction to revalorization. What was once “scrap” is now strategy. China’s 2025–2026 Nonferrous Metals Plan made it clear: recycled metals are no longer secondary feedstock; they are the foundation of industrial resilience. Fastmarkets Metals and Mining and Bloomberg confirm that scrap imports and recovery targets are climbing, with Beijing aiming for over 20 million tonnes of recycled nonferrous output by 2026. This is not a marginal adjustment — it’s a systemic reconfiguration of supply. 🔁 #Copper, #aluminum, #nickel, and #zinc are all being repositioned through recycling loops that reduce dependency on concentrates and volatile TC/RCs. In parallel, a new battlefield is emerging — #ewaste #recycling — the world’s fastest-growing metal reservoir. Every metric ton of discarded electronics contains, on average: 250 kg of copper, 300 grams of silver, 30 grams of gold, 15 kg of aluminum, and critical traces of palladium, cobalt, and rare earths. The irony? Less than 20% of e-waste is formally recycled today, according to the Global E-Waste Monitor. The rest — nearly 50 million tonnes annually — becomes a lost mine, a missed opportunity measured not just in metal but in carbon and capital. 🌍 Circular copper is no longer a sustainability story — it’s a profitability engine. Margins are increasingly dictated by the mix, not the mine. Smelters that engineer hybrid feedstocks — combining concentrate, scrap, and photovoltaic or battery waste — can increase yield efficiency by 8–12%, according to LME and Benchmark projections. This is where leadership must evolve: 1️⃣ Create certified recycled-copper programs — traceable, ESG-verified, with standardized grade bands that command premiums. 2️⃣ Build “feedstock engineering” units — technical teams optimizing blends for yield, emission profiles, and metal recovery. 3️⃣ Forge consortia with OEMs, recyclers, and logistics partners — locking long-term access to circular materials before the competition does. Bloomberg Intelligence highlights that copper scrap demand in China alone could surpass 6 Mt/year by 2030, driven by EVs, data centers, and renewable infrastructure. Those who secure circular supply chains early will dominate not only on ESG metrics, but on cost resilience and trade agility. The U.S. and Europe must respond with industrial alignment: Tax credits for recycling CAPEX, Digital traceability standards across the metals chain, and Federal procurement mandates rewarding recycled content. 🧭 The next frontier in copper isn’t buried underground — it’s stored in yesterday’s infrastructure and tomorrow’s waste streams. The winners will be those who stop mining and start closing the loop. Are you pricing traceable recycled copper today? If not, why? CRU #CircularEconomy #Sustainability #ESG #MetalsStrategy #BaseMetals #Smelting #LMEWeek #Metallurgy #DLGroup

The Circular Strategies Scanner 🌎 This diagram, developed by the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) and its Nordic partners, provides a great framework for identifying practical strategies to embed circular economy principles across business operations. The Circular Strategies Scanner highlights three core action areas: recirculating parts and products, recirculating materials, and rethinking or reconfiguring business models. These categories cover the full lifecycle of products and materials, from raw material sourcing to end-of-life management. Key strategies for recirculating parts and products include repair, maintenance, reuse, refurbishment, remanufacturing, repurposing, and upgrades. These interventions aim to extend existing use cycles and maximize the value extracted from products. Material recirculation focuses on recycling (both chemical and physical), cascading uses across industries, recovery processes such as composting or energy recovery, and integrating secondary or renewable materials. This is critical for reducing dependence on virgin resources and minimizing waste. The model also emphasizes rethinking value creation. Business model strategies such as product-as-a-service, buy-back agreements, and sharing platforms are essential for shifting from linear consumption patterns to circular, access-oriented systems. Impact reduction is addressed through restorative sourcing, lean manufacturing, and efficient use-phase operations. Optimizing logistics, reducing idle capacity, and designing for longevity are also integral components of a robust circular approach. Importantly, the scanner provides a visual link between traditional linear processes and the opportunities to intercept waste and inefficiency at every stage. It underscores the importance of full decoupling of environmental impact from growth through systemic change. Circular economy success depends not only on individual strategies but on their integration across the value chain. This framework offers a strong foundation for companies and industries aiming to transition toward circularity in a structured and impactful way. Source: CIRCit - Circular Economy Integration in the Nordic Industry #sustainability #sustainable #business #esg #circulareconomy

Only 24% of PET bottles in the US are recycled. How can we increase this number and move towards a circular economy for plastics? A new study published in the Journal of Industrial Ecology by Basuhi et al. (2024) evaluates strategies to increase PET bottle recycling rates in the US. The authors find that expanding deposit return systems (DRS) could significantly increase PET bottle recycling rates and move the US towards a circular economy for plastics. Here's what you need to know: 🟢 Currently, the PET bottle recycling rate in the US is 24%, and the bottle-to-bottle circularity rate is 11%. 🟢 A nationwide DRS could increase the PET bottle recycling rate to 82% and achieve 65% bottle-to-bottle circularity. 🟢 The net cost of this system is estimated to be 360 USD/tonne of PET recycled. What does this mean for the future of PET plastics recycling? The results of this study are promising and suggest that expanding DRS could be a key strategy for increasing PET bottle recycling rates in the US. However, the authors also note that the success of this strategy will depend on sustained demand for recycled PET (R-PET). In addition to expanding DRS, the authors recommend implementing policies such as recycled content mandates and eco-modulated extended producer responsibility (EPR) fees to ensure that there is a market for R-PET. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the potential of DRS to increase PET bottle recycling rates in the US. With the right policies in place, we can move towards a more circular economy for consumer container plastics. #circulareconomy #sustainability #plasticrecycling #depositreturnsystems #EPR

The latest round of UN plastic pollution talks has broken down, lacking agreement to reduce plastic production. Meanwhile -- 1.4 garbage truck’s worth of plastics enters the ocean every minute. 🚛 No question, the world must produce less plastic. But in the meantime, we have to find immediate ways to 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘆𝗰𝗹𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿. How? In markets where recycling is largely handled by the private sector we see strategies focusing on aggregators having a lot of promise; 📈  Helping aggregators improve their business operations and market connections, so they can buy more from plastic collectors 🤝🏽 Connecting plastic collectors directly with aggregators and introducing transparent, performance-based payment models 💻 Training recycling entrepreneurs in technology to improve their efficiency and logistics 💳 Helping aggregators register with government authorities and gain access to formal financial services This is especially important in lower-income countries, which disproportionately bear the burden of plastic pollution. We can’t wait for global agreements—𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘂𝗽, 𝗻𝗼𝘄.

🌱♻️ Excited to share our latest publication in #Nature, where we introduce a holistic aqueous-based recycling strategy for perovskite photovoltaics, reducing environmental impact while preserving high efficiency. This green-solvent-based recycling approach that restores nearly all essential materials—including perovskite layers, charge-transport layers, metal electrodes, and glass substrates—achieving an impressive 99% recycling efficiency. Our findings show a 96.6% reduction in resource depletion and a 68.8% reduction in human toxicity (cancer effects) compared to landfill disposal. ⚡ Beyond sustainability, this strategy lowers the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) for residential and utility-scale perovskite PV systems, helping to build a circular solar economy. This work highlights the power of international collaboration in tackling sustainability challenges at the intersection of materials science, energy, and AI. Huge thanks to Xueyu Tian and 王秉政 in our interdisciplinary team for making this possible! Read the full paper here: https://lnkd.in/gWCX-8SQ #Sustainability #SolarEnergy #PerovskitePV #Recycling #CircularEconomy #AIforSustainability

There’s a lot of quiet movement right now around Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and it represents a real opportunity for sustainable innovation. At its core, EPR is an economic model. Instead of taxpayers funding waste management, producers take responsibility for the end-of-life impacts of the products and packaging they put into the market. In practice, that means reporting requirements, producer fees, and participation in systems that fund recycling, reuse, and waste reduction. What’s notable right now is how quickly this is moving from policy concept to operating reality. Over the last few years, packaging EPR laws have passed in Maine, Oregon, Colorado, California, Minnesota, Maryland, and Washington. Several of these programs are now hitting real milestones: • Colorado’s program begins collecting producer fees this year. • California’s SB 54 moves toward full implementation in 2027, with aggressive recycling and plastic reduction targets. • Washington and Minnesota are building multi-year programs that tie producer costs to system performance and reuse investment. • New York and several other states narrowly missed passage in 2025 and are widely expected to return to EPR legislation. EPR will show up first as a cost with new fees, new reporting, and new understanding required across different state environments. That part is unavoidable. What’s more interesting is what it changes underneath. EPR steadily re-prices packaging design choices. Materials that are hard to recycle or overly complex become more expensive over time. Simpler, lighter, more recyclable formats tend to cost less to operate year after year. This opens space for meaningful sustainable innovation: • Packaging redesign becomes a margin and risk management lever, not just a compliance exercise. • Better material and supplier data becomes an operational capability. • Reuse, refill, and standardization move from theory to funded system experiments. • Early movers get to help shape how these systems work, rather than adapting to them later. We can already see this in the EU, where the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (and soon the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation) has tied packaging design to recycling performance, accelerating simpler, more recyclable formats and early reuse models. EPR isn’t the sustainability headline of the year, but it may be one of the most consequential shifts in how products are designed, priced, and brought to market over the next decade. If this piqued your interest, learn more with these resources: • National Conference of State Legislatures overview of EPR: https://lnkd.in/eF3jf7VW • Circular Action Alliance state program updates: https://lnkd.in/epEjN4S2 • California SB 54 overview from CalRecycle: https://lnkd.in/euECc7ZA

By 2026, the pressure on critical materials is going to redefine how the industry talks about solar recycling. Silver demand is already outpacing supply in several projections. Copper continues to tighten. And the volume of retired PV modules is accelerating faster than most operators expected. This combination will force a major shift: Recycling won’t be viewed as an environmental obligation — It will be recognized as a strategic supply chain asset. Recovering materials like silver, aluminum, and high-purity glass won’t just offset disposal. It will support manufacturing stability, reduce dependency on volatile markets, and keep more domestic material circulating inside the U.S. energy ecosystem. The companies that prepare for this now will operate with an advantage. The ones that wait will feel the impact in project costs, lead times, and replacement budgets. 2026 is the year material recovery becomes a financial strategy, not a compliance strategy.

Building a truly circular economy for plastic starts with scaling the use of post-consumer recycled (PCR) content — and tackling the barriers in the way. The latest report from the US Plastics Pact looks at the biggest challenges, like limited supply, unstable markets, and funding gaps. It also shares real solutions, including better recycling policies, stronger brand commitments, smarter packaging design, and investment in local recycling systems. With insights from over 100 organizations across the value chain, the report makes it clear that real progress requires collective, coordinated action. Pure Strategies, Inc. is proud to be a Technical Affiliate of the U.S. Plastics Pact and to support this important work. Access it here: https://lnkd.in/e5dsQvcu #CircularEconomy #RecycledContent #PCR #USPlasticsPact

Building a circular economy for critical minerals is fast becoming a national priority, linking design, recycling, and regulation into one resilient system. Reviewing the Terranaut Minologues working group I participated in, co-produced by Bill Squadron at OurEnergyPolicy and Chase Weir at Earthshot Foundation, focused on recycling and innovation in critical minerals, the fourth in a series tackling U.S. supply-chain resilience. Our discussion underscored one thing: the next generation of clean-energy policy must link design, recycling, and regulation into one circular system. Key takeaways: 🔹 Design for reuse. Modular products make recycling easier, while composite designs cut costs—future success will balance both. 🔹 Streamline rules. Inconsistent EV-battery transport regulations slow progress; national alignment would accelerate investment. 🔹 Smarter automation. Tools like AI and X-ray sorting can recover 90%+ of materials, bridging cost gaps with mining. 🔹 Policy precision. State-level EPR programs can drive recycling innovation without stifling small manufacturers. 🔹 Battery breakthroughs. Solid-state and sodium-ion chemistries could reduce lithium dependence and reshape markets. Recycling won’t replace mining overnight—but innovation, smarter policy, and collaboration can make it competitive and sustainable. It takes a village. Grateful to collaborate with: Jordan Crowe Zhigang Zak Fang – University of Utah Stephanie Gagnon-Rodriguez – Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES) Matanya Horowitz – AMP Kirsten Hund– The World Bank John Jacobs Nedal Nassar Roshan Pujari– Stardust Power, Inc. Adele R. Peter Stahley – Cassidy & Associates Fabian Villalobos, PhD– RAND Ke Wang– World Resources Institute Gregory Wischer – Dei Gratia Minerals Alina Zagaytova 🔗 Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/eJimX6rc

♻️ Tough Tradeoffs: Recycled vs. Promising Novel Materials We get this question a lot:  👉 “Should we use recycled content or move to a potentially regenerative virgin input?” It’s a fascinating tradeoff in sustainable packaging. At EcoEnclose, our north star is circularity: a world in which packaging is made from packaging, becomes packaging again, and is sourced from materials that are restorative, not extractive. 🌍 When viewed through that lens, we need to do both. ✅ Invest in recycled content to strengthen the recycling economy, minimize carbon and resource use, and keep materials in circulation right now. ✅ Adopt truly promising novel inputs materials that could one day be regenerative at scale (with a prioritization on promising novel inputs that can also be recyclable at scale). How do we navigate it? 1️⃣ Be rigorous about what’s “promising.” Novel materials always sound exciting but often raise tough questions about land use, resource inputs, and true circularity. We apply a research-driven filter to decide which inputs align with our north star. 2️⃣ Keep recycled content central. It’s not “sexy,” but it’s scalable, effective, and critical today. For most brands, recycled + recyclable packaging is an optimal current solution. ♻️ 3️⃣ Innovate responsibly. We champion the novel materials that do pass the test, from algae ink to seaweed-based Sway films, bringing them to the cutting-edge brands eager to pilot what’s next. For us, progress isn't choosing sides. It’s responsibly integrating the future while embracing what works today. #SustainablePackaging #CircularEconomy #RecycledContent #NovelMaterials #EcoEnclose #ToughTradeoffs #PackagingInnovation