The term ‘rare earth minerals’ in relation to electronics has been talked about a lot in recent months but what does it refer to and why is it of importance to legislation affecting the electronics industry?
There are 17 rare earth minerals (REM) (also known as rare earth elements). 15 sit within the chemical group called lanthanides, plus yttrium and scandium. The lanthanides consist of the following: lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, and lutetium.
Despite the term ‘rare’, REMs are actually in fairly abundant supply. The issue is where they are concentrated. The US was at one point self-sufficient in REMs but, due to lower operational costs, now source them primarily from China. It is estimated that global demand for REMs is 136,000 tonnes per year, rising to at least 185,000 tonnes annually by 2015.
REMs can be used in a variety of ways including in ‘automotive catalytic converters, fluid cracking catalysts in petroleum refining, phosphors in colour television and flat panel displays, permanent magnets and rechargeable batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles, and generators for wind turbines, and numerous medical devices.’
With the increase in global demand the need to recover REMs from WEEE (waste electrical and electronic equipment) is all the more important. Some methods of recovery already exist and there are signs that the EU will be taking a more active role in ensuring greater levels of REM recovery.
A recent report from the European Parliament, compiled by rapporteur Reinhardt Bütikofer, called for an ‘EU rare earth competency network’. Part of this plan suggested review and modification of existing directives including WEEE, Batteries and Eco-Design to increase the amount of REM being recycled and reused.
RICS, the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, has also published a paper into REMs and comments, 'there is a real need to develop policy to avoid the inefficient use of critical materials, first by preventing wholesale extraction and employment, and then by ensuring their collection and re-use, that a closed-loop production cycle (or something close to it) is created. Broadening the scope of legislation, such as the WEEE Directive and developing new waste policies could go some way to achieving this'.
With support from both the European Parliament and trade organizations, there is definite potential that REMs could soon be featuring in a number of directives.
Sources: ‘Rare Earth Elements: The Global Supply Chain’ – Marc Humphries; ‘Towards a cohesive European rare-earth elements strategy’ – Ioannis A. Tsoukalas; ‘Towards an EU strategy for Rare Earth Metals?’ – RICS
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