Europe seeks raw material security through recycling and supply chain resilience

Europe faces significant supply chain vulnerabilities regarding critical raw materials, impacting both industrial manufacturing and the aerospace and defense sectors. A study by Roland Berger warns that the aerospace and defense industries risk production bottlenecks due to a heavy reliance on non-European suppliers, particularly for titanium and rare earth elements. China and Russia currently produce approximately half of the world's high-purity titanium sponge, and a supply gap of roughly 100,000 tons could emerge over the next decade.

To mitigate these geopolitical risks, European policy is shifting toward a 'Recycled in Europe' model. Initiatives such as the Critical Raw Materials Act and the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation aim to strengthen domestic recycling capacities for strategic materials found in electronic waste, batteries, and vehicles. While the EU aims to reduce dependence on imported primary raw materials, challenges remain in establishing profitable processing capacities for certain difficult-to-recycle plastics and materials. Strengthening local recycling infrastructure is viewed as essential to securing the materials necessary for future industrial and defense autonomy.