Researcher Lucía Unamunzaga, head of the Sustainability and Environment research line at AZTERLAN Metallurgy Research Centre, participated in the session dedicated to “Critical Raw Materials” held within the Basque Circular Summit 2025 where she presented the white paper “Eco-innovation: Recycling of Key Metals and Critical Materials” elaborated by the Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA).
Economic relevance and supply risk define the European list of 34 critical raw materials identified in Regulation 2024/1252 establishing a framework to ensure a secure and sustainable supply of essential raw materials, officially published in April 2024. Among these materials, half of them are considered strategic (including aluminum and copper), as they are decisive for the energy and digital transition. The new European regulation aims to reduce dependence on these metals and minerals and, in turn, minimize environmental footprint through ecodesign, R&D&I, and recycling.
To address such important challenges and share experiences, the session on Critical Raw Materials, organized within the Basque Circular Summit 2025 and moderated by Ihobe, featured representatives from Orkestra, Arteche, Fraunhofer, CIC-Energigune, Orkli, and AZTERLAN. Representing AZTERLAN, Lucía Unamunzaga, Head of Sustainability and Environment at the Metallurgy Research Center, presented the white paper “Eco-innovation: Recycling of Key Metals and Critical Materials”, the technological roadmap developed by the BRTA to respond to the challenge of key metals and critical materials. This document reflects the consensus established by the Alliance members regarding the analysis of the main needs of Basque industry in relation to the critical raw materials consumed, the highest priority R&D&I opportunities, and key technologies that must be addressed to reduce shortages and supply issues and improve the efficiency of metals and critical raw materials in the Basque Country.
Lucía Unamunzaga presents the main aspects of white paper “ECO-INNOVATION IN THE RECYCLING OF KEY METALS AND CRITICAL MATERIALS”
These are some of the main conclusions and action fields identified in the session:
- Design and test alternative materials that can be quickly implemented in real-manufacturing processes (such as eco-design of metals, alloys, or products).
- Identification of critical and strategic materials and monitoring their risks within each company.
- Promote collaboration with other companies that face similar challenges (joint sourcing, supplier diversification, etc.).
- The need to think in long-term: Avoid the sway by short-term fluctuations and anticipate potential future critical materials with high supply risks and significant economic impact.
Participants in the “Critical Materials” session at BCS2025: Lucía Unamunzaga (AZTERLAN), Macarena Larrea (Orkestra), Jon Ander Solis (Orkli), Raquel Ferret (CIC energiGUNE), Ander Elorriaga (Ihobe), Ixone Urruela (Arteche), and Luis A. Tercero (Fraunhofer).
