MET Conference Agenda

Germanium is a telling example of how geopolitical dynamics and CRM nationalism shape - and often hinder - effective recycling loops. Today, most primary germanium originates in China, is processed in Europe, and is then used in high-tech applications, such as infrared optics, in the United States. Once integrated into systems like thermal imaging devices in aircraft and vehicles, these components rarely return to the European market. Instead, they are “pulverized” in downstream industrial (or defense) value chains, effectively disappearing from the accessible material stream.

The talk explores three core questions:

· Where does germanium end up once equipment is decommissioned and why is so little of it recovered?

· How can hidden secondary deposits (e.g., thermal imaging modules in decommissioned vehicles etc.) be identified and made accessible for recycling?

· What policy and market incentives are required to make European CRM recycling economically viable?

The presentation outlines practical obstacles, such as low awareness among disposal companies – many components containing Germanium appear visually worthless – and a challenging economic environment for specialist recyclers in Europe. It also highlights measures that could strengthen resilience: priority access to end-of-life equipment, clear information flows for recyclers and dismantlers, binding offtake commitments within the EU, and frameworks that keep valuable critical materials circulating outside China.

The case of Germanium shows why “nothing should be thrown away” is more than a slogan: it is a prerequisite for building a functioning, self-sustaining European CRM value chain.