Critical Raw Materials Act

Berlin, 12.12.2023: Today, the European Parliament wants to give the green light for an investment plan in the raw materials sector. German environmental and development organisations fear the weakening of environmental standards in Europe and human rights violations in resource-rich countries through the planned “Critical Raw Materials Act”. While the EU Parliament was able to increase recycling targets during the negotiations, the organisations criticise the fact that the law does not contain binding targets to reduce EU-wide high consumption of raw materials or to increase the circularity of critical raw materials. The law also fails to strengthen the rights of the people affected by mining.

“In the EU, the demand for metals is growing even more rapidly than the mountains of waste. With the Raw Materials Act, the EU is missing the opportunity to address its own, globally unjust consumption of raw materials. There is not even an objective to stop the waste of raw materials”, criticises Michael Reckordt of PowerShift. “It is known from the UK that five million disposable electric cigarettes end up in the trash every year. These contain copper or lithium, the latter would be enough for 5,000 electric cars. Without tackling waste like this, we cannot reduce dependence on countries like China.”

"Critical raw materials, including for the energy transition, can only be conserved with an ambitious EU-wide circular economy. Non-binding recycling targets are not enough. Concrete measures for waste prevention, reuse and resource efficiency are needed in order to make truly economical use of materials. Manufacturers must also be made more obligated to use critical raw materials sustainably from the outset and to recover them at the end of their lives. We call on all EU countries to provide targeted incentives for repairs and, if that is no longer possible, for high-quality recycling," says Barbara Metz, Managing Director of DUH.

“The growing demand for metals is foreseeably driving the extraction of raw materials in nature reserves. Already, four out of five mining projects worldwide are in or close to nature reserves, the ecological consequences are often devastating. Ecosystems are our capital for the future and must not fall prey to hasty non-transparent processes”, says Tobias Kind-Rieper from WWF.

"The countries of the Global South will probably continue to be reduced to the role of raw materials supplier, as the planned raw materials partnerships will primarily serve the strategic and economic interests of the EU", explains Teresa Hoffmann, expert on raw materials policy at Brot für die Welt. “The law states that the creation of added value in the countries rich in raw materials should be supported. The EU must now put words into action and anchor concrete implementation tools in the framework of cooperation with third countries."

For more information:

• A common position on the Critical Raw Materials Act of 44 European organisations can be found here here
• A joint position on Critical Raw Material Partnerships from eleven European organisations can be found here here