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- Mitsubishi Materials' E-Scrap Recycling Business
Recycling the earth's resources
to create a sustainable society
Mitsubishi Materials'
E-Scrap
Recycling Business
The annual E-Scrap processing capacity of the Mitsubishi Materials Group is approximately 160,000 tons.
This is equivalent to 20% of the approximately 800,000 tons of E-Scrap generated worldwide in a year.
Since the E-Scrap market is expected to expand due to improved recycling rates,
we aim to further expand our processing capacity to approximately 240,000 tons per year by the end of FY2031.
World-class E-Scrap
processing volume
Electronic devices such as home appliances, computers, and smartphones contain valuable metals such as gold, silver, copper, platinum, and palladium. When these electronic devices are recycled, it is possible to recover discarded circuit boards called E-Scrap. E-Scrap is drawing attention as part of urban mining, and the amount handled is only increasing as the recycling rate of electronic devices improves. Mitsubishi Materials collects E-Scrap mainly from Japan, Europe, and North America, and its processing volume is among the highest in the world.
The E-Scrap recycling process
-
Collection
Collecting E-Scrap from
all over the world -
Sampling/analysis
Weighing, inspection,
sampling, analysis -
Smelting
Smelting at Naoshima
Smelter & Refinery
and Onahama Smelter
& Refinery -
Resource recovery
Recycling into copper
and precious
metal ingots
- Weighing
- Inspection
- Sampling
Fair and impartial sampling
Sampling is performed to calculate the amount of valuable metals contained in the E-Scrap. The weighing, inspecting, and
sampling of most of the E-Scrap collected in Europe is performed by MM Metal Recycling BV (hereinafter "MMMR").
Crushed representative samples are flown to Japan and analyzed there to determine the purchase price. By conducting the
entire process of sampling, analysis, purchase price determination, and payment in a fair, impartial, and speedy manner,
we improve customer convenience and build relationships of trust. Sampling is objectively conducted by selecting the
most appropriate method for each of the many different types of E-Scrap.
- Weighing
- Inspecting
- Sampling
- Analysis
- Smelting
Smelted and refined
into high-purity ingots
at Naoshima Smelter & Refinery
and Onahama Smelter
& Refinery
E-Scrap collected from all over the world is smelted at the Group's smelters & recycled into copper and precious metal (gold, silver, platinum, and palladium) ingots.
casting at Naoshima
Smelter & Refinery
Enhancing facilities
and services
to meet customer needs
Harald Wagemaker
General Manager,
MMMR
Expanding MMMR facilities due to
a surge in E-Scrap deliveries
In the past two years, we have experienced tremendous growth in E-Scrap deliveries to MMMR. Since we are accepting more small lots than originally intended, MMMR has enhanced its logistics capabilities, expanded its site, and added new facilities and parking. We have also added space for a third loading dock for containers to comply with environmental regulations. The recycling of non-ferrous metals contributes to a sustainable society. Through our business, we will save raw materials and reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions, thereby putting our Corporate Philosophy of "For People, Society and the Earth" into practice.
The E-Scrap trading platform MEX
has become even more convenient
In December 2021, Mitsubishi Materials developed and launched MEX (Mitsubishi Materials E-Scrap Exchange), a new
platform for the E-Scrap recycling business.
In May 2022, in response to customer requests, we added an online communication function (confirmation function during
inspection) and a paperless function, allowing customers to check necessary information 24 hours a day.