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Metal Guru
Metal Guru
Metal Guru
Global trade, sources, flows and trends in metal demand and supply.
Carbon-cutting technologies such as wind turbines and electric vehicles rely on a ready supply of rare-earth metals. Government and business therefore need to know exactly how much metal the UK uses and, just as importantly, whether supplies are secure.
Thanks to the Living With Environmental Change-accredited Minerals and Waste programme, managed by the British Geological Survey, policy-makers at both UK and EU level get the critical information they need and this can be shared with business.
The British Geological Survey has gathered statistics on global metal production for nearly a century and the Minerals and Waste programme harnesses links forged with around 170 contacts in ministries and other organisations worldwide. Data collected is used to identify global trading patterns, material flows and long-term trends, and the quantities and sources of metals used in the UK and EU.
With the EU 100% dependent on external supplies of cobalt and zirconium, for example, this is essential information. Even a mobile phone contains 30 different metallic elements.
Moreover, with rising living standards in China and elsewhere boosting demand, pinpointing potential risks and vulnerabilities affecting the sourcing of metals is increasingly vital.
“Our advice helps shape important activities like the EU Raw Materials Initiative,” says Programme Manager Andrew Bloodworth. “In areas like resource efficiency and the environmental impact of metals procurement, we provide the solid platform of fact on which effective policies and strategies can be built.”