Sustainable value chain from mining to mineral resource recovery

Green Transition and digitalization increase the global demand for minerals. Finland and other Europe are highly dependent on foreign countries and therefore mineral supply security must be improved. At the same time the lack of high-grade ores forces towards the utilization of circular solutions and utilization of side- and waste streams to guarantee mineral availability. New technologies must be developed to enable circularity of mining & mineral industry.

Mining industry is responsible for huge amount of waste yearly whish is a challenge for environmental sustainability and for social acceptance of the mining industry. In 2022, the mining waste was responsible of 76.5% of the total waste produced in Finland (Statistics Finland). New technologies for waste minimization are needed. Companies are looking for solutions to lower their emissions and minimize waste generation which opens new global market opportunities for companies developing sustainable technologies.

The goal of the campaign is to help Finnish mining and mineral sector to renew itself, its offering and cooperation networks to increase its global market share while playing active and positive role in green transition. Finland is in a good position to provide solutions for sustainable mining and mineral processing to support green transition and waste minimization. The campaign supports companies to develop sustainable technologies, solutions and services to increased mineral availability both from primary and secondary sources and for waste minimization. The campaign enhances the collaboration between industries and research institutes and helps building bridges between different industries and to find new reliable partners.

The campaign supports Business Finland's Circular Transition to Zero Waste mission to support circular economy solutions to secure the availability of raw materials and ensure sustainable economic growth.

Why Zero Waste Mining and Critical Minerals is important?

Finland is a significant supplier of critical raw materials (Cobalt, platinum, palladium, nickel, and lithium) in the EU. With the help of the campaign Finland is aiming to strengthen its position as a global forerunner on low-carbon, zero waste and increasingly nature-positive technological solutions. Campaign answers the market demand for minerals and implements the actions decided in National Mineral strategy.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) projects that achieving global net-zero emissions by 2050 could result in the demand for critical minerals rising by up to six times by 2040 (base 2020). Globally, we are also heading toward the depletion of high-grade ores in mining. These factors increase the need to secure the supply of critical raw-materials.

A concrete EU-level strategic decision is to decrease critical mineral supply risks via the CRMA (Critical Raw Materials Act 5/2024). Targets include increased European mineral extraction, processing and the share of recycled minerals in order to secure European industries’ raw-material supply security. The CRMA states that member states must implement measures to promote the recovery of critical raw materials from mining waste. In addition, the CRMA targets for the EU to source at least 25% of its annual consumption of strategic raw materials from recycled content by 2030. The share of materials from recycled and secondary sources estimated to be around 50% of the total material use in 2034 based on forecasts by OECD (Global Material Resources Outlook to 2060).

European partnership on raw materials for the green and digital transition belongs to Horizon Europe and it aligns with the CRMA. Business Finland will act as a national funder, and one implementor of the national mineral strategy (published 12/24) which is aiming to increase the supply security of strategic and critical minerals. The market for secondary minerals and diversified supply of raw-materials is supported by the CRMA framework and initiatives like the European partnership. Industries’ competitiveness is dependent on the secure supply of critical minerals. Reducing dependences on external sources for critical minerals minimizes vulnerabilities.

Campaign goals

The Campaign's main goal is to renew Finnish mining and mineral sector. This is achieved through circular and zero waste solutions, enabling the sustainable supply of critical minerals and other raw materials.

The campaign helps mining and mineral sector to renew its offering and cooperation networks to increase its global market share while playing active role in green transition. The campaign will support Finland’s mining & mineral industries efforts to stay competitive against increasing global competition by gaining knowledge, making investments to RDI, creating connections and developing new solutions utilizing data, digitalization and AI.

The campaign gives visibility to Finland’s industrial offering, boosts mining & mineral sector exports and promotes Finland as a  strategic location for RDI and foreign investments.

Campaign supports the renewal of mining and mineral industry from the beginning of the value chain until to the end – from mine planning to industrial recycling. The circular economy improves the availability of raw materials and reduces dependence on virgin natural resources. In the future circular economy and waste stream utilization are in the core when new mines are planned and designed.

Finland is already known for sustainable technology and therefore Finland has significant potential to promote sustainable development when answering global challenges. Through research and development, we can increase the value added of raw materials and strengthen the competitiveness of the industry in the international markets. By strengthening R&D in mineral sector, Finland can take a flagship role in sustainable mining and mineral industry which attracts investments. The support and risk sharing increases companies’ willingness to invest on side stream utilizations.

Campaign enhances collaboration between industry, research organizations and strategic partners in EU area and in selected countries outside EU. Campaign is targeting to combine artificial intelligence and digital solution companies to the mining and mineral industry improving the competitiveness of Finnish industry.

Other goals: 

• Mining and mineral sector R&D investments in sustainable circular solutions and waste minimization increase annually, with the long-term goal of reaching 2 bn euros in exports by 2034.
• Finnish companies strengthen their positions in projects and R&D partnerships in the EU and in selected countries outside Europe in the mining and mineral sector, with a focus on circular solutions and waste minimization. 
• Increased amount of techno-economically viable solutions and models enabled by digitalization and data to create more value from the waste and side streams.

Main services

• Awareness raising and stakeholder communications
• R&D and other funding services
• EU funding activation and guidance
• Cross-industrial networking and cooperation
• Support for internationalization
• Invest-in activities 

Target groups

Campaign's target groups are companies and other organizations, including research organizations, in sustainable mining and mineral industries:

• Mining companies
• Raw-material exploration companies
• Mine planning
• Refining companies
• Mining and refining technology and solution providers
• Steel producers
• Other metal producers
• Metal recyclers
• Technology providers and manufacturers in different industries
• Digitalization, AI and data utilization: Companies offering solutions for mining & mineral sector
• Companies offering services for mining & mineral sector, especially recycling and circular economy services

Target markets

Business Finland’s R&D funding is intended for export companies or companies targeting to export markets. The campaign is especially focused to build connections within EU and with selected countries outside EU. Companies and research institutions are encouraged to utilize EU funding.

Join the campaign

We are happy to invite you to build a more sustainable mining industry.