EU CRITICAL RAW MATERIALS
Figure 1. CRMs in 2020 for the EU (adapted from Ref. [3]). LREEs and HREEs stand for light and heavy rare earth elements (REEs), respectively.
Critical raw materials
Raw materials are crucial to Europe’s economy. They form a strong industrial base, producing a broad range of goods and applications used in everyday life and modern technologies. Reliable and unhindered access to certain raw materials is a growing concern within the EU and across the globe. To address this challenge, the European Commission has created a list of critical raw materials (CRM’s) for the EU, which is subject to a regular review and update. CRM’s combine raw materials of high importance to the EU economy and of high risk associated with their supply.
Why critical raw materials are important
- Link to industry– non-energy raw materials are linked to all industries across all supply chain stages
- Modern technology– technological progress and quality of life rely on access to a growing number of raw materials. For example, a smartphone might contain up to 50 different kinds of metals, all of which contribute to its small size, light weight and functionality.
- Environment– raw materials are closely linked to clean technologies. They are irreplaceable in solar panels, wind turbines, electric vehicles, and energy-efficient lighting.
