Urban mining to deliver metals circularity in Europe
We are creating a novel solution for extracting rare earths and precious metals from e-waste.
Tons of e-Waste
In 2025, 11 million tonnes of electrical and electronic equipment waste were discarded in the EU. This equates to 17.6 kilograms per person. (source)
Research and Innovation
A group of leading experts, researchers, companies and institutions have joined forces to find better ways of treating e-waste and to recover critical raw materials and precious metals.
Our Mission
The RETURN project is a consortium of nine leading European companies and institutions that aims to transform electronic waste into valuable resources. The project demonstrates the use of cutting-edge technologies to efficiently recover precious metals and critical raw materials for manufacturing. RETURN is delivering against EU goals of achieving resource independence and establishing a circular economy.
E-Waste is a Billion Euro-Opportunity.
By 2050, Europe’s annual e-waste could reach 19 million tonnes – containing up to 1.9 million tonnes of critical raw materials. This represents an enormous opportunity to recover valuable resources and reduce dependency on imports through sustainable recycling. (Report)
Key Components
The RETURN Process - Key Steps
AI-Solution for Sorting & Identification of Parts
Our solution provides a wide range of tools, features, and functionalities to help your sales organisation.
Eco-Friendly Resource Recovery with DES solvents
Our solution provides a wide range of tools, features, and functionalities to help your sales organisation.
Trusted Tracing with Digital Product Passports (DPP)
Our solution provides a wide range of tools, features, and functionalities to help your sales organisation.
Learn More About the RETURN Process
How We Can Support
Solutions for our Partners
E-Waste Recycler
We provide a decentralized, low-CAPEX solution that integrates directly into existing facilities
Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs)
We utilize Digital Product Passports (DPP) and AI-driven recognition to provide an immutable record of a product’s lifecycle and material provenance
Ethical Metal Broker & Industrial Supplier
Through our Dynamic Digital Marketplace (DDM), we connect suppliers directly with high-purity, European-recovered metals
Learn more and discover new topics
Our Blog
Europe cannot secure its critical raw materials future by ignoring what it already has
Europe generates 12 million tonnes of electronic waste every year — embedded with the exact critical raw materials the continent says it cannot afford to import. Only 36% is recycled. The rest is lost. This is not a waste management failure. It is a strategic one.
Europe Is Still Losing the E-Waste Battle – Here’s What a Solution Looks Like
Europe recycles just 36% of its e-waste through official channels — down from 41% a decade ago. While millions of tonnes of valuable materials are lost each year, the real failure is not resources, but systems. From outdated smelting methods to broken collection economics, Europe’s current approach is failing. But projects like RETURN are showing what a scalable, commercially viable circular electronics economy could actually look like.
Rare Earths in Our Drawers – Europe’s E-Waste is a Strategic Ressource
Europe is working hard to meet the ambitious goals set out in the Green Deal and the Critical Raw Materials Act. But we’re in a strange situation. We need the materials to make products like wind turbines, electric vehicles, and defense systems. But we also have to admit that a lot of these materials are currently being thrown away.
