Magnesium is highly abundant within the earth’s crust, however due to its tendency to bond with other elements, it must be processed to be available in its pure form. Magnesium is highly recyclable and therefore requires only 5-10 percent of the energy necessary for the manufacture of the primary material. The availability of primary magnesium in combination with its recyclability makes it a very sustainable material. An effective process for recycling scrap magnesium could lead to a notable decrease in greenhouse gas emissions. As magnesium use is increasing, particularly in the automotive industry, the need for an effective and low cost recycling process is growing.

The greatest source of post-consumer scrap magnesium is end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) and the push to create light-weight and fuel efficient vehicles will likely only increase the source of scrap. In addition, typical manufacturing die castings produce only about 40-60% of the total cast weight as the finished product with the remaining portion ending up as process scrap metal.

For more information on the sustainability aspects of Magnesium follow the links below:

• European Union Magnesium Recycling Study (2017)
• Recycling Magnesium
• In-Use Benefits
• Life Cycle Assessment
• IMA Environmental Responsibility Award