On 4 June 2025, IDEALIST held its third Expert-to-Expert webinar, dedicated to Circular Raw Materials. The online session brought together 19 participants to discuss circular approaches to critical raw materials, with a particular focus on batteries, secondary materials and life cycle thinking.
Circularity and critical raw materials
The webinar explored how circular economy approaches can contribute to addressing challenges linked to critical raw materials and how secondary raw materials can support more resilient and resource-efficient industrial value chains.
The discussion combined different perspectives on material use, circularity and the challenges associated with reducing dependence on critical resources.
Battery circularity and life cycle thinking
Violeta Vargas from Eurecat presented “Enabling Battery Circularity through Life Cycle Thinking: Insights from RECIRCULATE”, bringing a life cycle perspective to the discussion on battery circularity.
The contribution highlighted the importance of considering materials and circularity across the different stages of the battery life cycle.
Reducing critical raw material use in batteries
Andreas Wolf from the Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research ISC Würzburg addressed the topic “Avoiding the use of critical raw materials in batteries – a double-edged sword for circularity”.
His contribution added another perspective to the discussion, looking at the relationship between reducing the use of critical raw materials and the implications this may have for circularity.
The session also included an open discussion and Q&A, creating space for exchange between experts and participants.
For further information, contact info@idealist-project.eu