TY - JOUR

T1 - Sustainable extraction and recycling of non-ferrous metals

T2 - a review from a European perspective

AU - Gerold, Eva

AU - Luznik, Lea Theres

AU - Samberger, Sebastian

AU - Antrekowitsch, Helmut

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2024 The Author(s). Published by the Royal Society. All rights reserved.

PY - 2024/11/4

Y1 - 2024/11/4

N2 - This review article provides a comprehensive examination of sustainable extraction and recycling methods for non-ferrous metals, which are critical to a wide range of industries including electronics, construction and renewable energy. Focusing on metals such as aluminium, copper and silicon, the study highlights the importance of recycling in conserving resources and minimizing environmental impact. It discusses the challenges posed by material diversity in recycling processes and the advances in recycling technologies that have emerged in response. Special emphasis is placed on the importance of a circular economy in maintaining a sustainable balance between consumption and conservation of metal resources. Through detailed analysis, it advocates innovative recycling practices and improved design for recyclability and highlights the role of policy, industry and consumer behaviour in achieving sustainability goals. The findings contribute to the discourse on strategic self-sufficiency in Europe through recycling, providing insights into how to improve efficiency and manage the complexity of the global material cycle. This work calls for a collaborative effort towards sustainable metallurgy and underlines the critical need for advances in recycling infrastructure and technology to ensure the long-term availability and environmental stewardship of non-ferrous metals. This article is part of the discussion meeting issue ‘Sustainable metals: science and systems’.

AB - This review article provides a comprehensive examination of sustainable extraction and recycling methods for non-ferrous metals, which are critical to a wide range of industries including electronics, construction and renewable energy. Focusing on metals such as aluminium, copper and silicon, the study highlights the importance of recycling in conserving resources and minimizing environmental impact. It discusses the challenges posed by material diversity in recycling processes and the advances in recycling technologies that have emerged in response. Special emphasis is placed on the importance of a circular economy in maintaining a sustainable balance between consumption and conservation of metal resources. Through detailed analysis, it advocates innovative recycling practices and improved design for recyclability and highlights the role of policy, industry and consumer behaviour in achieving sustainability goals. The findings contribute to the discourse on strategic self-sufficiency in Europe through recycling, providing insights into how to improve efficiency and manage the complexity of the global material cycle. This work calls for a collaborative effort towards sustainable metallurgy and underlines the critical need for advances in recycling infrastructure and technology to ensure the long-term availability and environmental stewardship of non-ferrous metals. This article is part of the discussion meeting issue ‘Sustainable metals: science and systems’.

KW - circular economy

KW - materials cycle

KW - nonferrous metallurgy

KW - primary production

KW - recycling

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85208496803&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1098/rsta.2024.0173

DO - 10.1098/rsta.2024.0173

M3 - Review article

VL - 382.2024

JO - Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences

JF - Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences

SN - 1364-503X

IS - 2284

M1 - 20240173

ER -