New Video: How rare earth magnet recycling can power Europe’s circular future

The HARMONY project has released a new video introducing its mission to transform how Europe recycles rare earth magnets – critical components found in everyday technologies such as smartphones, electric vehicles, and home appliances.

Despite their importance to the green and digital transition, less than 5% of rare earth magnets are currently recycled in the EU. The HARMONY project, funded by the Horizon Europe programme, aims to change this by developing innovative and sustainable recycling pathways that keep these valuable materials in use.

The video explains:

• Why rare earth magnets are so essential to modern life
• The environmental challenge posed by low recycling rates
• How HARMONY combines advanced recycling technologies with Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to ensure environmental, social, and economic sustainability

“To build a resilient, circular supply chain for critical raw materials, we need to rethink how we handle Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and especially magnets,” says Dr. José Manuel Martín coordinator of HARMONY. “Our project is working at the intersection of technology and sustainability to deliver solutions that are viable for industry and better for the planet.”

The HARMONY consortium brings together leading experts across Europe from research, industry, and policy, all committed to increasing circularity and reducing Europe’s reliance on primary raw material imports.

The international and interdisciplinary research team includes 21 partners from 6 European countries: Spain, Italy, Slovenia , Belgium, UK and Germany. The project began in January 2024 and will run for 36 months until December 2026.