IN SUMMARY
Minviro partners with BEC GmbH, Circularise, Grundfos, and the global Rare Earth Industry Association (REIA) in a three-year EIT RawMaterials funded innovation project to build a blockchain-based Circular System for Assessing Rare Earth Sustainability (CSyARES). This will help companies improve the transparency and sustainability of their supply chains regarding critical and rare earth materials.
A three-year innovation project funded by EIT RawMaterials.
Integrates Minviro’s LCA tool and REIA sustainability standards with Circularise’s blockchain traceability software.
Grundfos and BEC GmbH test the system and business model with REIA members.
Project context
Minviro partners with BEC GmbH, Circularise, Grundfos, and the global Rare Earth Industry Association (REIA) in a three-year EIT RawMaterials funded innovation project to build a blockchain-based Circular System for Assessing Rare Earth Sustainability (CSyARES). This will help companies improve the transparency and sustainability of their supply chains regarding critical and rare earth materials.
Demand for rare earth metals is skyrocketing, and by 2030, it is projected to reach 315,000 tonnes1. These rare-earth metals are irreplaceable in wind turbines, electric vehicles, mobile phones, computers and the defence industry. Rising demand, resource shortages, and supply chain disruptions mean we must rely on sustainably mined and processed metals.
The transition to a circular economy is considered crucial, and governments worldwide incentivise companies to uptake e-waste recycling and other sustainable practices with new regulations. As highlighted by the European Raw Material Alliance (ERMA) Action Plan, boosting supply security through better stakeholder cooperation is a top priority. For rare earth metals suppliers, this means becoming more sustainable and proving their compliance and quality criteria to customers and regulators.
Objectives and Minviro’s contribution
Developing an innovative CSyARES is key to achieving these goals. In this project, the partnering organizations aim to:
- Integrate REIA’s standards on assessing sustainable performance and Minviro’s LCA tool with Circularise’s blockchain software for supply chain traceability and transparency.
- Allow Grundfos and BEC GmbH to test the system and business model and trace and measure the environmental impact of their supply chains. This will be conducted in cooperation with members of REIA.
This project will contribute to the circular economy transformation in the rare earth elements, electric and electronic equipment, automotive, and all other sectors that depend on rare earths. It will create new business opportunities for manufacturers and recyclers, allowing downstream players to ensure sustainable practices throughout their supply chains.
Dr Robert Pell, Founder and CEO of Minviro: “Rare earth elements are key enablers of low carbon technology. However, their production has a legacy of environmental impacts. Quantifying the impacts of producing these critical materials is essential to ensure the transition to decarbonisation is achieved with responsibly sourced components. Life cycle assessment is the most robust methodology for measuring environmental performance, and Minviro have been working with raw material projects to identify and reduce their environmental footprint. We are excited to be involved in the CSyARES project, which seeks to establish the integration of forward-thinking applications from all partners to synergise environmental, supply chain and standard compliance in the REE value chain - a truly comprehensive tool to help secure sustainable critical material streams in Europe.”
