The MAGELLAN project, together with eight other EU-funded research projects focusing on rare earth elements and permanent magnets, has issued a public call to the European Commission to introduce dedicated waste codes for permanent magnets.
Permanent magnets are vital to the EU’s green and digital transitions, and the resilience of its industrial base. However, as recognised in the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA), their supply chains require strengthened support.
In a joint letter, the project coordinators underline that despite the progress of the CRMA and the recently announced Clean Industrial Deal, a crucial gap remains: the lack of specific tracking and monitoring for waste streams containing permanent magnets.
Why it matters:
- Waste from permanent magnets, such as from end-of-life vehicles and electronic equipment, is not clearly identified today.
- Without proper classification, collection and recycling cannot scale effectively.
- New codes would stimulate investment in recovery processes and foster a circular market for critical raw materials.
The joint initiative, bringing together over 100 entities across Europe, sends a strong signal to EU policymakers: unlocking the circular economy potential of permanent magnets starts with better waste stream visibility and traceability.
MAGELLAN is proud to have coordinated this joint effort to EU’s ambition for a more circular economy in the EU.
For more information, contact: info@magellan-horizon.eu
