Made in Europe Recovery of Rare Earth Elements: Is a Circular and Sustainable Value Chain Really Possible?

The demand for rare earth elements (REEs) has grown significantly due to their critical role in advanced technologies, including renewable energy systems, electric vehicles, and electronics. However, the European Union (EU) relies entirely on imports to meet its REE needs, exposing industries to significant supply chain vulnerabilities. The paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the current state and future potential of the REEs recycling value chain in Europe, identifying enabling factors and barriers across the upstream, midstream, and downstream stages. Based on findings developed in three EU and national funded research, this paper highlights the huge potential of available recycling technologies but also criticalities in terms of waste collection systems, recycling infrastructure, and downstream processing capabilities. The paper offers some implications for policy makers at national and EU levels.