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 From outdated smelting methods to broken collection economics, Europe’s current approach is failing.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.

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.