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Umicore and the Circular Economy Initiative Deutschland

Umicore is supporting the overall Circular Economy approach since it is very close to the company’s pioneering closed-loop business model. As a leading materials technology and recycling company, we play a role in production and process efficiency as well as in the sustainable supply chain, providing input to several initiatives based on our expertise. Today, Umicore is proud to be part of the Circular Economy Initiative Deutschland (CEID) to align on a strategic and sustainable roadmap for Germany.  

The Circular Economy preserves products, materials and raw materials in the economy for as long as possible, creating value and minimizing waste by significantly saving resources and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Advanced technologies such as electromobility, renewable energies and digitalization rely on essential metals that are of economic importance and considered as a high supply risk. Therefore, improving resource efficiency is fundamental in the development, production, use and recycling of products using those resources.  A true circular economy can only be achieved through innovative collaborative networks throughout the product life cycle, supported by legal framework conditions. The CEID has brought together scientific, economic and societal stakeholders to define a joint roadmap defining the transformation towards a Circular Economy. 

Our colleague, Dr. Christian Hagelüken, Director EU Government Affairs Umicore shares with us the following statement:

"As one of the founding members of CEID, Umicore supports the goal of making Germany's gradual transformation to a circular economy sustainable. As a globally active materials technology and recycling group, we are represented at the beginning and at the end of the battery life cycle, with our core competencies in cathode materials and battery recycling. Our know-how contributes to providing important impulses for the development of new business models and the establishment of resource-efficient recycling structures. Moreover, we commit to sustainable metals management from the sourcing to the supply of our materials.  We can now look back on more than a year of very intensive and constructive cooperation within the CEID. During this time, we have learned a lot and have been able to participate in an open and fruitful exchange between members from science and industry. We are proud of the work we have done together and of the report that provides the complex topic of the Circular Economy for traction batteries with a systemic perspective and with important impulses for politics, industry and science. Umicore will continue to be involved in this important topic as we believe that the implementation of the Circular Economy is crucial for the success of e-mobility. On a personal note – as an “industry veteran” in metals recycling and sustainable metals management – I am very proud to have contributed to this important work, aiming to bring recycling to the higher level of a circular economy for materials and metals.”