ETIP on Raw Materials
Why an ETIP on Raw Materials
For developing its future and more particularly the decarbonisation of our economy, Europe needs some raw materials.
Not all resources needed can come from recycling. Some materials coming from primary production must complement the quantities recycled.
Some of the primary resources are located outside Europe.
To reduce its dependency, Europe is engaged in finding as much as possible of those primary resources within its territory.
The ETIP on Raw Materials is looking at this objective.
What is the link with batteries ?
The European Union has defined a list of CRM (Critical Raw Materials), dearly in needs at the EU level. The list of CRM is updated from time to time.
The list contains some materials (or metals as precursors to battery materials) like Co, Ni, Li... Therefore the link with batteries.
For example: Europe has not much own primary resources in Co, Li, Ni also needed for manufacturing batteries. Recycling waste containing those elements is a first step, but not sufficient; Consequently, Europe is looking at developing new Li-deposits or re-opening closed mining operations or investigating if modern technology allows to extract some of these resources from past tailings of mining operations in Europe.
A link is also established between the ETIP raw Materials and the ETIP n batteries (one of the co-chair of the WG2 on Raw Materials and Recycling) is also active in the ETIP on Raw materials.