Circular Economy

We promote the efficient use of materials and reuse of mineral-based raw materials. We develop new solutions for mineral, waste and water processing and increase the knowledge we have on the lifecycles of different materials.

The aim of a circular economy is to reduce the amount of waste and increase the reuse of materials. This means a circular economy will maximise the value of primary and secondary materials as raw materials. The circular economy has a significant role in promoting sustainable growth and preventing climate change.

To meet the mineral, metal and material demands of our modern society, innovative development of technology and methods is required in addition to the production of primary materials. Our focus areas include the processing and utilisation studies of primary and secondary materials, as well as lifecycle management for battery minerals, for example. Our most central goals include the ecologically efficient utilisation of raw materials and minimising the carbon footprint of industrial operations, material efficiency, material flow management, low-emission production and turning waste and side streams into new raw materials without increased environmental load.

GTK provides its customers with solutions for processing ore and industrial minerals, process water management, and recycling waste and side streams and benefitting from them. GTK also has expertise with waste and mine water as well as their management and use.

We use our extensive knowledge of material flows, our modern infrastructure and multidisciplined approach to tackle the challenges of the circular economy together with our partner organisations. The GTK Mintec in Outokumpu and the new Circular Raw Materials Hub joint laboratory in Espoo form a unique framework for research.

The world needs more material knowledge.