Ionic Rare Earths Ltd says its rare earth element (REE) magnet recycling process stands to make substantial inroads into cutting carbon emissions, following an independent peer review of its Product Carbon Footprint study by Minviro Ltd.
The study demonstrated that Ionic Technologies' recycling process could reduce carbon dioxide emissions by up to 61% compared to traditional rare earth oxide (REO) production methods, at a time when countries are looking to shore up their REE supply for defence and energy technology applications.
Key findings
The findings indicated an up-to 53% CO2 reduction for Didymium oxide ((NdPr)2O3).
There was also an up-to 61% CO2 reduction for Dysprosium oxide (Dy2O3) and an up-to 61% CO2 reduction per megawatt (MW) for wind turbines using rare earth permanent magnets.
The company also found there was a significant decrease in Scope 3 emissions for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) incorporating Ionic Technologies' REOs into their supply chains.
The findings reinforce the sustainability benefits of Ionic Technologies' planned Belfast magnet recycling plant, positioning it as a key contributor to greener REE supply chains in the UK, Europe, and beyond.
The study followed international standards ISO-14040:2006-07 and ISO-14067:2018-08, ensuring rigorous environmental assessment.
Carbon emission impact data
Ionic Rare Earths has also announced the launch of MagNetZero™, an initiative designed to provide customers with quantifiable CO2 impact data for REE products.
The initiative aims to enhance transparency and promote sustainable supply chain decisions for industries reliant on rare earth materials.
“We are delighted an independent peer review has validated the findings of the LCA conducted by leading sector consultant Minviro, validating that the CO2 reductions achieved by our process offer profound benefit to OEMs,” managing director Tim Harrison said.
“The benefits of Ionic Technologies’ patented process based on Belfast know-how have again been demonstrated, showing how magnet recycling can not only supply the REOs critical for the defence, advanced manufacturing and renewables sectors, but also offer emission reduction benefits compared to conventional rare earths production.
“Ionic Technologies will now work with offtakers to quantify the CO2 impact of our products, and how this can benefit their supply chains and products. Unlike other magnet recyclers, we produce separated REOs, which are of equivalent quality to primary REO materials.
“Now we can quantify exactly how much CO2 that our customers can expect to eliminate through inclusion of our products in the supply chain – an invaluable source of data for manufacturers seeking to quantify and actively manage their emissions.”
Comparison to conventional REE sources
The following findings show how large the emissions savings are:
- Didymium oxide: 53% lower CO2 emissions compared to Inner Mongolia sources and 28% lower than Australian/Malaysian sources.
- Dysprosium oxide: 61% lower emissions compared to global averages from ion adsorption clay mining.
- Wind turbines: Reductions of 34-61% in CO2 emissions per MW when using Ionic Technologies' recycled REOs.
Future outlook
Ionic Rare Earths aims to further commercialise its recycling technology while collaborating with industrial partners to integrate lower-carbon REEs into supply chains.
The company is actively engaging with offtakers to quantify and implement these emission savings in manufacturing processes.
Executive chair Brett Lynch said: “Ionic Technologies has now proven it can not only produce separated REOs through magnet recycling, but also offer sustainable carbon emission reduction benefits that are unavailable to conventional producers.
“This sustainability together with security of supply offers a compelling solution for governments and businesses seeking an ex-China supply chain, whether in the UK, Europe, Brazil or Asia.
“Notably, the UK and Europe’s drive to enhance defence production, as shown by the 1.6 billion UK pound investment in Thales’ Belfast missile factory*, only further highlights the need for sovereign rare earths supply.
“Belfast is becoming a key part of the UK/European defence industry and Ionic Technologies is located at the heart of this critically important sector, delivering new jobs and investment for Belfast while strengthening the UK and Europe’s security amid an increasingly uncertain strategic environment.”
The company has already secured UK government backing for its initiatives and is progressing plans for further expansion, including its recent joint venture refinery project in Brazil.