Epiroc faces the challenge of managing customer waste with minimal environmental impact. The company aims to ensure that critical and strategic materials, such as tungsten carbide, nickel, and cobalt, are reintegrated into the ecosystem sustainably. By focusing on reuse and efficient logistics, Epiroc seeks to reduce transportation distances and environmental impact while maximizing the recovery of these valuable resources.
Epiroc’s current efforts involve agreements with scrap companies to purchase and separate materials like steel and carbide. Additionally, Epiroc extends the lifespan of products through methods such as regrinding carbide inserts and using diamond inserts.
The demand for critical minerals is rising rapidly as the world transitions towards a fossil-free future. By 2040, the world will need six times more minerals to meet NetZero goals, making efficient recycling essential for meeting this increasing demand sustainably.
The desired outcome is to recycle critical materials efficiently and responsibly, ensuring that they are reintegrated into the supply chain with minimal environmental impact. Success will be measured by the percentage of minerals recovered and successfully reintroduced into the supply chain.
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If you want to know more about this case, contact Erik Hagenrud, project manager for the SME Network.
