Rare earth recycling: fuelling the future, one magnet at a time

Objetivo

RarEarth is a deep-tech company that has developed a fully integrated circular technology for the production of high-performance NdFeB permanent magnets in Europe. Its proprietary process recovers magnets from waste electrical and electronic equipment and converts them into finished magnets, uniquely integrating automated dismantling, advanced purification, alloy re-engineering, and industrial-grade magnet manufacturing.
RarEarth has reached TRL 6 across all key process steps. Independent validations by the Politecnico di Torino and the Fraunhofer Institute confirm that recycled magnets achieve magnetic performance fully comparable to magnets made from virgin materials.
Patents cover key steps including mechanochemical resin removal, metallic and oxide layer removal, and automated motor dismantling, with additional filings planned for grain boundary engineering and alloy optimisation.
The innovation delivers clear advantages over existing solutions. Compared with indirect hydrometallurgical recycling, RarEarth reduces production costs by 60-80% and energy consumption by 70-80%, while achieving near-zero material losses and recycling over 90% of reagents. At a planned output of 590 t/year by 2030, the process is projected to avoid approximately 42,000 tCO2e annually compared to virgin production, while increasing WEEE valorisation by 350% by converting low-value iron scrap into high-value magnetic materials.
European demand for NdFeB magnets is expected to triple by 2030, while the market remains almost entirely dependent on imports from China and less than 1% of magnets are currently recycled. RarEarth addresses this structural gap, targeting 1.7% of the EU NdFeB market by 2030.
With EIC Accelerator blended finance, RarEarth will strengthen Europe’s technological leadership and strategic autonomy in critical raw materials by delivering a resilient, circular supply of high-performance NdFeB magnets for electric vehicles, wind turbines, and industrial applications.

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