The European Union (EU) is facing significant societal challenges due to its high reliance on imported critical raw materials (CRMs), including metals essential for strategic sectors such as renewable energy, automotive, aerospace, and defense. Current geopolitical uncertainties and geographically concentrated supply chains exacerbate supply risks, with certain materials sourced predominantly from a few countries. This dependence threatens the sustainability and resilience of EU industries, particularly as global demand for CRMs is projected to rise dramatically with the transition to green and digital technologies. Key measures include enhancing domestic extraction, processing, and recycling capabilities to reduce import reliance and diversify supply chains. Additionally, the EU actively supports the exploration of alternative and unconventional sources of CRMs, such as brine from seawater desalination, which is under investigation in the ongoing EXBRINER project. Discharged desalination brine is a severe environmental problem associated with the extensive use of SWRO desalination technology, exacerbated by the relatively low water recovery factor (40–50%) of current plants. EXBRINER, aligned with the principles of the Circular Economy, aims to develop next-generation membranes and membrane-based processes to transform desalination by-products into valuable resources. This innovative approach explores the potential of desalination brine (but research outcomes can be transferred to other natural and industrial brine sources) as future "mine," leveraging advanced technological solutions to recover critical raw materials and reduce environmental impact. By converting waste into value, EXBRINER not only addresses sustainability challenges but also contributes to resource efficiency and the diversification of raw material supply chains, which are crucial for industrial and technological resilience.
