Rare Earth Recycling Review Finds Hydrogen-Based NdFeB Recovery Can Cut Emissions to 12% of Primary Production

Highlights

• Hydrogen-based NdFeB recycling could generate greenhouse-gas emissions just 12% of primary production and use 70–80% less water, per life-cycle studies reviewed.
• Eight recycling routes were evaluated, with hydrometallurgy and pyrometallurgy most mature, while emerging methods like bioleaching remain at TRL 2–5.
• The review warns that high lab recovery rates are misleading—global end-of-life magnet recycling remains extremely small due to collection and feedstock challenges.
• Commercial winners will likely be determined by feedstock control—secure scrap streams, automated disassembly, and digital product passports—not just recovery chemistry.