| Abbreviation | Term | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| ABM | Agent-based model | Modelling of scenarios around autonomous 'agents', their actions and interactions, in order to better understand the behaviour of the circular economy system. |
| ASM | Artisanal and small-scale mining | Widespread in developing countries in Africa, Asia, Oceania, and Central and South America. Though the informal nature generally results in low productivity, the sector represents an important livelihood and income source for local populations |
| BBSRC | Biotechnical and Biological Sciences Research Council | A national funding agency investing in bioscience research and training in the UK. The council aims to further scientific knowledge, promote economic growth and improve the quality of life in the UK and beyond |
| BCSECM | Birmingham Centre for Strategic Elements and Critical Materials | A centre for expertise in the science, economic and regulatory challenges created by the need for strategic elements and critical materials. Based at the University of Birmingham |
| BEI | Birmingham Energy Institute | Research Institute based at the University of Birmingham, focused on low-carbon technology and advising on policy for future energy solutions |
| BEIS | Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy | The UK's governmental department that was responsible for business, industrial strategy, science, research, innovation, energy, climate change and clean growth. Replaced by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero; the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, and the Department for Business and Trade in 2023 |
| BGS | British Geological Survey | World-leading independent research organisation providing objective, expert geoscientific data, information and knowledge |
| CE | Circular economy | A template for global economies in which products are maintained at their 'highest value' through a system of re-use, servitisation business models and resource efficiency, whereby waste is designed out from the start. This is a move away from the existing linear economy |
| CE-HUB | National Interdisciplinary Circular Economy Research (NICER) programme hub | A central hub of five, interdisciplinary, cifcular economy research centres |
| CRM | Critical raw materials | Raw materials are deemed to be 'critical' to a given country due to their scarcity, stability of supply and/or geopolitical relations with providers |
| CSM | Camborne School of Mines | A combined geoscience and mining institute at the University of Exeter, hosting scientific and engineering expertise in geology, mining and minerals processing |
| EOW | End of waste | The point at which, through recycling or some other recovery process, the material is fit for immediate, valuable use for a specific, lawful purpose. |
| ESG | Environmental, social and governance | Investors are increasingly applying these non-financial factors as part of their analysis process to identify material risks and growth opportunities |
| ICEC-MCM | Interdisciplinary Circular Economy Centre for Mineral-based Construction Materials | One of the five circular economy research Hubs within NICER, investigating the scientific, socio-economic and technological bases for design and implementation of systems, processes and policy that will support the transition to a circular economy for the built environment infrastructure of the UK. This is largely focused on base metals such as steel and copper |
| GBA | Global Battery Alliance | A partnership of businesses, governments, academics, industry actors, international and non-governmental organisations aiming to ensure that battery production not only supports green energy, but also safeguards human rights and promotes health and environmental sustainability |
| LCA | Life cycle analysis | A method of quantifying the environmental impacts associated with a given product, created through an inventory of resources used and pollutants generated in product production and use over its lifetime |
| LE | Linear economy | Existing economic model based on a concept of 'take-make-waste', where resources are extracted, made into a product and rapidly classified as waste rather than resource |
| LSM | Large-scale mining | Intentional mining of minerals in mechanised operations involving one or more open-cast pits, sinking of shafts, drilling of adits or other underground operation following the legal acquisition of permits |
| NICER | National Interdisciplinary Circular Economy Research Programme | A collaborative research and development programme investigating a resilient circular economy for the UK |
| PGMs | Platinum group metals | A family of six structurally and chemically similar elements that are most valued for their wide range of industrial, medical, and electronic applications. These versatile metals play a significant role in many products in daily use |
| Recycling | Processing or reprocessing of an end-of-life product or component to recover or create a supply of constituent secondary materials, which can then be diverted to fruitful further use. The term should only apply when the product or component has been broken down to the material level ('material' here could include more complex substances such as alloys or compounds) and where there has been some loss of functionality or integrity of the original product or component during the process. Processes such as recovery and re-use of components (for example, battery cathode-to-cathode processes) would not be termed recycling as there would be no loss of functionality and no breakdown to materials levels; such processes would instead fall under re-use. | |
| REEs | Rare earth elements | A set of seventeen metallic elements including the fifteen lanthanides on the periodic table plus scandium and yttrium. An essential part of many high-tech devices, these elements are not necessarily uncommon but often difficult to extract on a commercially viable scale |
| Refurbishing | The process of updating a product or component, which could be to newer specifications (and aesthetics), by replacing broken or obsolete parts to retain the original purpose and functionality of the product or component. Systems testing or certification is usually required. The process could improve the quality of the product or component. The refurbished product or component may be offered warranties (but not up to the standards of a new product). | |
| Remanufacturing | The process of retaining the quality, functionality and standards of the product or component as comparable to a new product or component. This usually involves disassembly and extensive operations. Quality checks are similar to a new product or component. The degree of change to the system application would be more extensive. The product will be offered a warranty like that of a new product. | |
| Repair | The process of fixing faults, damage or broken parts of a product or component to retain the original purpose and functionality of the product. The process could extend the product's life and may be accompanied by a limited warranty. | |
| Repurpose | Retaining a component, subcomponent or product's original function but using that function for a different purpose than it was designed for. Repairs, cleaning or testing and validation of the original function of the product, component or subcomponent may be performed. ‘Repurpose’ is often relevant to component and subcomponent level, but not exclusively. The aim of repurposing is to keep functional products, components and subcomponents, including embedded technology metals, in life for longer. For example, using an electric vehicle battery as an energy storage solution should be considered repurposing, assuming that no major repairs to the battery are required. Stages of preparation for re-use are likely to be essential, so that access to components and subcomponents is ensured (for example, dismantling). | |
| Reuse | Using a component, subcomponent or product for the same purpose and retaining its original function. Re-use should not require major repair or reprocessing. However, minor repairs, cleaning or testing and validation of the original function of the product, component or subcomponent are likely to be included. The application of the re-use definition beyond the product level is important, as it can prolong the life of components and subcomponents that include technology metals. For example, providing a second life to an electric vehicle should be considered as re-use. The same should apply to recovered components such as the electric motor or subcomponents such as the permanent magnets, assuming they retain their initial functionality. Thus, stages of preparation for re-use may be essential if the aim is to re-use specific components or subcomponents. An electric motor can be re-used for its original functionality in another vehicle; however, the vehicle is remanufactured to accommodate the re-used component. | |
| RI | Responsible innovation | A framework for researchers and innovators in which both intended and unintended consequences are anticipated, aiming to minimise adverse effects or find alternative solutions |
| Treatment | The physical, mechanical, thermal, chemical, digital or biological processing of waste to facilitate effective waste management. | |
| Urban mining | The recovery by collection or reclamation of resource for secondary materials, components or products from anthropogenic, hibernating or waste stocks. There are likely to be essential preparatory stages, such as collection, separation, etc. that must take place before recovery or reclamation can occur. | |
| Waste | Any substance, material, component or product that is unwanted or falls out of use and is intentionally discarded into the environment by the holder. | |
| WEEE | Waste electrical and electronic equipment | Electrical and electronic equipment that has reached its end of life is a vast resource for the technology metals that form the focus of the NVO |
| WEF | World Economic Forum | The World Economic Forum is an international non-governmental and lobbying organisation with a particular interest in the circular economy of metal resources |
| UNRMS | United Nations Resource Management System | A unifying framework for the integrated management of resources, especially within a circular economy |
Contact
For questions regarding the UK Technology Metals Observatory, please contact Dr Evi Petavratzi.