6 XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3
These all require new ways of understanding and manag-
ing how society consumes raw materials. This is reflected
in the demands for complex resource management systems
from government policy, consumers and investors, be that
for material passports as mandated by the EU, avoidance of
conflict minerals in national legislation or the diversifica-
tion of supply chains seen in the EU Critical Raw Materials
Act or USA Inflation Reduction Act. The UNRMS acts as
a framework for to bring many of these aspects together
under 12 overarching principals to ensure sustainable solu-
tions for resource management
The challenges to achieve decarbonization whilst meet-
ing the aims of the UN SDGs are significant. We need har-
monised taxonomies and standards, for primary resources,
for secondary resources and for ESG. We need transparency
and traceability, and we need a whole systems understand-
ing and approach of mineral supply chain. This would allow
design smarter solutions for the sustainable extraction, pro-
cessing and use/repairing/recycling of raw materials from
both primary and secondary sources. We must promote
responsible consumption and ensure that the aims of the
circular economy are met so that markets are developed for
products, components and materials that maximise their
lifespan in such a way that is beneficial to society. We need
to decarbonise supply chains, reduce demand and reduce
the impact of raw material consumption through waste
valorisation, industrial symbiosis, reuse, repairing, remanu-
facturing and recycling.
REFERENCES
Bide, T., Horn, S., Gunn, A.G., 2021. Overview of activi-
ties and policy related to critical raw material standards
and resource management. British Geological Survey
Commissioned Report, CR/21/124. 79pp.
Bide, T., Horn, S., Gunn, A.G., Price, F., Mitchell, C.J.
and Patton, M. 2022. Securing sustainable supply of
critical raw materials for the UK, current issues and
recommendations for improvement. British Geological
Survey Commissioned Report, OR/22/034. 93pp.
International Energy Agency 2024. Global Critical
Minerals Outlook 2024.
Josso P, Lusty P, Gunn A, Shaw R, Singh N, Horn S,
and Petavratzi E. 2023. Review and development of
the methodology and data used to produce the UK
Criticality Assessment of Technology-critical Minerals.
British Geological Survey Open Report, OR/23/044.
93pp.
Lusty, P, Shaw, RA, Gunn, A, and Idoine NE 2021. UK
criticality assessment of technology critical minerals
and metals. British Geological Survey Commissioned
Report, CR/21/120. 76 pp.
Nassar, N.T., Brainard, J., Gulley, A., Manley, R., Matos,
G., Lederer, G., Bird, L.R., Pineault, D., Alonso, E.,
Gambogi, J., Fortier, S.M., 2020, Evaluating the min-
eral commodity supply risk of the U.S. manufactur-
ing sector Sci. Adv., 6 (8) (2020), p. eaay8647, doi:
10.1126/sciadv.aay8647.
Nassar, N.T., and Fortier, S.M., 2021, Methodology and
technical input for the 2021 review and revision of the
U.S. Critical Minerals List: U.S. Geological Survey
Open-File Report 2021‑1045, 31 p., doi: 10.3133
/ofr20211045.
These all require new ways of understanding and manag-
ing how society consumes raw materials. This is reflected
in the demands for complex resource management systems
from government policy, consumers and investors, be that
for material passports as mandated by the EU, avoidance of
conflict minerals in national legislation or the diversifica-
tion of supply chains seen in the EU Critical Raw Materials
Act or USA Inflation Reduction Act. The UNRMS acts as
a framework for to bring many of these aspects together
under 12 overarching principals to ensure sustainable solu-
tions for resource management
The challenges to achieve decarbonization whilst meet-
ing the aims of the UN SDGs are significant. We need har-
monised taxonomies and standards, for primary resources,
for secondary resources and for ESG. We need transparency
and traceability, and we need a whole systems understand-
ing and approach of mineral supply chain. This would allow
design smarter solutions for the sustainable extraction, pro-
cessing and use/repairing/recycling of raw materials from
both primary and secondary sources. We must promote
responsible consumption and ensure that the aims of the
circular economy are met so that markets are developed for
products, components and materials that maximise their
lifespan in such a way that is beneficial to society. We need
to decarbonise supply chains, reduce demand and reduce
the impact of raw material consumption through waste
valorisation, industrial symbiosis, reuse, repairing, remanu-
facturing and recycling.
REFERENCES
Bide, T., Horn, S., Gunn, A.G., 2021. Overview of activi-
ties and policy related to critical raw material standards
and resource management. British Geological Survey
Commissioned Report, CR/21/124. 79pp.
Bide, T., Horn, S., Gunn, A.G., Price, F., Mitchell, C.J.
and Patton, M. 2022. Securing sustainable supply of
critical raw materials for the UK, current issues and
recommendations for improvement. British Geological
Survey Commissioned Report, OR/22/034. 93pp.
International Energy Agency 2024. Global Critical
Minerals Outlook 2024.
Josso P, Lusty P, Gunn A, Shaw R, Singh N, Horn S,
and Petavratzi E. 2023. Review and development of
the methodology and data used to produce the UK
Criticality Assessment of Technology-critical Minerals.
British Geological Survey Open Report, OR/23/044.
93pp.
Lusty, P, Shaw, RA, Gunn, A, and Idoine NE 2021. UK
criticality assessment of technology critical minerals
and metals. British Geological Survey Commissioned
Report, CR/21/120. 76 pp.
Nassar, N.T., Brainard, J., Gulley, A., Manley, R., Matos,
G., Lederer, G., Bird, L.R., Pineault, D., Alonso, E.,
Gambogi, J., Fortier, S.M., 2020, Evaluating the min-
eral commodity supply risk of the U.S. manufactur-
ing sector Sci. Adv., 6 (8) (2020), p. eaay8647, doi:
10.1126/sciadv.aay8647.
Nassar, N.T., and Fortier, S.M., 2021, Methodology and
technical input for the 2021 review and revision of the
U.S. Critical Minerals List: U.S. Geological Survey
Open-File Report 2021‑1045, 31 p., doi: 10.3133
/ofr20211045.