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GTK Policy Brief: Advancing Circularity and
Responsibility in Mining – Geosciences for a Sustainable Future
The shift to sustainable energy technologies increases the demand for minerals and requires a more efficient and responsible use of mineral raw materials. Geosciences and minerals engineering are essential in solving these issues. Key areas to focus on include improving processing solutions, enhancing the traceability and recyclability of materials, and promoting design-driven circularity in mining projects. These innovations are essential for responsible stewardship of our finite mineral resources, reducing environmental impacts and securing the supply of critical materials.
Designing circularity, and tracing minerals and materials
The circular economy of minerals plays a vital role in supporting the global energy transition. This approach involves:
- Processing solutions: Developing advanced methods for extracting valuable minerals from the mined materials, waste and industrial byproducts.
- Traceability and recyclability: Implementing advanced characterisation and fingerprinting methods to trace the origin of minerals and enhancing the recyclability of secondary materials through increased material knowledge.
- Design-driven circularity: Promoting the use of mining waste through innovative project designs and the development of co-products that reduce waste, support sustainability and enhance resource recovery.
By focusing on these areas, the circular economy of minerals can reduce environmental impacts, increase resource efficiency, diversify our sources of materials and contribute to a more responsible mining industry.
Adopt resource stewardship
A mineral deposit can only be mined once. We must assume responsibility for all the materials we extract from the deposit, maximise sustainable benefits from the minerals we can use today and document the rest of the materials as deposits for future generations.
Promote circularity in mining
Encourage policies that incentivise the co-productisation of the extracted minerals and reuse of mining waste through circular economy models, including the development of new products from waste streams and efficient water management systems.
Invest in processing innovation
Support research and development for advanced processing and separation technologies and the utilisation of sensors and data-enabled approaches in order to recover valuable materials from industrial and mining wastes, tracing the separated streams throughout the processing chain.
Enhance traceability
Establish methods for geochemical fingerprinting, standards and certification schemes to ensure responsible sourcing and improve recyclability across supply chains. Implement material traceability in all product chains and life cycles.
Observe circularity in legislative processes
Resource stewardship and the uniqueness of the mineral sector and the non-renewable but highly recyclable and durable raw materials produced by mining should be observed in all legislative and administrative processes for sustainable outcomes. Legislation should promote comprehensive circularity and resource-efficiency to reduce waste.
Collaborate across sectors
Strengthen partnerships between mineral-producing and mineral-using industry sectors, research institutions and governments to implement circular economy practices, ensuring that innovations in waste reduction and resource recovery are scaled effectively.
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Circular Economy of Minerals
The global demand for metals and minerals is growing because of the clean transition. Our research activities focus on the processing of mineral raw materials and circular economy research.
GTK Mintec – a pilot plant and laboratories for the circular economy and mineral processing
GTK Mintec is a unique service provider combining mineral research laboratories with an industrial-scale pilot plant. The facility also includes a test area for studying the long-term behaviour of tailings and extractive waste.
GTK Mintec mineral processing industry pilot plant and research environment offer research and testing services throughout the value chain from ore deposits to the closing of mines and the reuse of materials. GTK Mintec studies and tests the beneficiation of minerals and mineral-based materials, as well as the recyclability of different types of side streams.
