Resource scarcity drives global push for strategic material recycling

Global concerns regarding the scarcity of essential chemical elements and the strategic importance of recycling are increasing. According to the American Chemical Society, 44 of the 118 known chemical elements could face significant supply limitations or become unavailable by the end of this century. At-risk elements include helium, phosphorus, indium, neodymium, zinc, gallium, germanium, arsenic, silver, tellurium, and hafnium.

To mitigate these risks, there is a growing focus on the circular economy. In the European Union, new regulations regarding packaging and packaging waste implemented in August 2026 aim to increase recycling rates and the use of secondary materials. The EU has set a goal to have recycling capacities cover at least 25 percent of its annual consumption of strategic raw materials by 2030.

Technological advancements, such as sensor-based sorting, are improving the ability to recover valuable materials like copper and aluminum from electronic waste. Beyond environmental protection, recycling is becoming a matter of industrial resilience and resource security, as many regions currently rely on imports for materials critical to the energy and digital transitions.