MAGELLAN Round Table: Policy and regulations for a viable magnet recycling industry in Europe

To establish a viable permanent magnet recycling industry in Europe, both clear policy frameworks and targeted research efforts are essential.

Supportive policies should include standardised waste collection systems for end-of-life products containing rare earth magnets, incentives for manufacturers to incorporate recycled materials, and regulations that promote circular economy practices, cross-Europe collaboration, and the traceability of rare earth elements.

Equally important is substantial investment in research and innovation to close existing technological gaps and develop efficient,  viable, and sustainable recycling processes across the entire value chain. Strong support from both the EU and national institutions will be necessary to ensure Europe remains competitive and resilient in critical raw materials.

Under the leadership of EIT RawMaterials’ Rare Earths SIGN initiative and the coordinator of the MAGELLAN project - ORANO,  four leading European magnet recycling projects - MAGELLAN, REESILIENCE, HARMONY, and PERMANET - will come together to explore these regulatory and research challenges, and outline the steps needed to enable a robust permanent magnet recycling ecosystem in Europe.

After an overview of the actions needed to improve the recycling of permanent magnets, based on the perspectives of each project, the industrial groups involved will exchange their views on all these subjects during a panel discussion.