At a glance
Key Challenge
Rare-earth permanent magnets are critical to EVs and wind turbines, but conventional mine-to-magnet production is highly carbon-intensive. The client's short-loop recycling technology promised a substantially lower footprint, but "promised" isn't good enough for investors, customers or regulators. The client needed an independent, ISO-compliant carbon footprint to substantiate the claim and benchmark it credibly against primary production.
Solution
Minviro conducted a product carbon footprint in accordance with ISO 14067:2018, drawing process data from the client's independent feasibility study and background data from ecoinvent 3.10. The assessment covered both the finished recycled magnet and its co-product alloy powder, quantifying the footprint of the short-loop recycling route from end-of-life scrap through to remanufactured magnet.
Results
The study confirmed an exceptionally low product carbon footprint for the recycled magnet, with a correspondingly low figure for the co-product alloy powder. Benchmarked against primary mine-to-magnet production, the recycled route showed a dramatic reduction in carbon emissions. The client has published the findings to support project financing and to engage customers seeking low-carbon, domestically sourced magnets.
The published footprint now supports the client's project financing and its engagement with customers seeking low-carbon, domestically sourced magnets.
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