Non-Ferrous metals
Your constant source of innovation, inspiration and insight
2025 provided the perfect illustration of what our Division offers and how it adds value to our industry.
No sector can grow without innovation and, in that regard, last year saw us launch a new flagship award honouring a Non-Ferrous Legend. This accolade will form a highly visible part of our mission to enhance external perceptions of our industry, highlighting the quality of our people, the excellence of our professional standards and the importance we attach to inspiring, mentoring and educating the next generation of non-ferrous metals recyclers.
In naming Marc Natan as our first Legend, we could not have chosen a more deserving recipient: more than 50 years’ service to the industry; active participation in nearly every BIR committee; six years as our divisional President; and top management roles within some of the largest businesses in our sector. And let us not forget that Marc has been an innovator too, perhaps most notably in launching the Non-Ferrous Metals World Mirror which, for more than two decades now, has been providing members with regular updates on – and insights into – key developments affecting our industry and markets.
Celebrating a legacy of excellence and innovation
The introduction of BIR Mirrors all those years ago was a tangible acknowledgement of how key business decisions need to be based on sound facts. To this same end, 2025 saw us complete the draft of our statistical study “Global trade in recycled non-ferrous metals” covering aluminium, copper, zinc and lead. Drawing on data from diverse global sources to produce statistics on imports and exports of recycled metals, this will serve to underscore how free and fair trade forms the very core of a sustainable circular economy.
Such studies not only clarify the statistical baseline from which we operate but also add immeasurably to our vital advocacy efforts, enabling us to quantify our environmental and economic contribution when involved in discussions about potential legislation and policy direction. And just as importantly, the study will enable us to alert decision-makers about the precise negative consequences of trade restrictions.
Quantifying the global impact of recycled metals
Of course, quality insights also continued to flow in 2025 from our renowned plenary sessions. In Valencia, we focused on recent wild shifts in trade policies, with Adam Shaffer of the US Recycled Materials Association identifying particular concerns surrounding US tariffs on neighbours Canada and Mexico. At the same event, Philippe Chalmin of the CyclOpe commodity research institute hailed copper as “the strategic metal of the 21st century” for its pivotal role in the energy transition.
At our subsequent gathering in Bangkok, Jessica Fung of Project Blue highlighted how announcements of proposed trade policy changes had immediate, deep-seated effects on material flows and prices. Inge Hofkens of Aurubis agreed that she had never seen so many dramatic changes in the world’s non-ferrous flows during her 30 years in the industry.
As well as market insights, the Convention also illustrated how technology is continuing to change the way we do business. Stuart Kagan of New Zealand-based Buddy spoke of its digital platform for trading metals, arguing that it was possible to achieve a happy co-existence between technology and personal relationships with other traders.
The intersection of technology and personal relationships
BIR Conventions have undoubtedly helped to preserve personal relationships in an increasingly tech-dominated world. Our twice-yearly meetings provide unmatched opportunities to press the flesh, share a drink and exchange insights. Valencia and Bangkok continued to rack up the high attendance numbers seen at preceding events, demonstrating the magnetic attraction of BIR Conventions for our industry’s best and most enthusiastic minds.
Our plenary sessions at these gatherings would not be possible without the planning, guidance and diligence invested by the Non-Ferrous Metals Division board and by the BIR Secretariat in Brussels. Thank you one and all for your continued efforts on behalf of our sector.
I would also like to extend my sincere thanks to BIR for its year-round advocacy work and the valuable information we as members obtain as a result. Constant changes in regulations are heightening the need to ensure our voice is heard in every major forum affecting our businesses. This is why it is so important to maintain your support of BIR or, if you are not a member already, to join our ranks.
And that’s not just my point of view. The same plea for ever-stronger collaboration was also issued by true Non-Ferrous Legend Marc Natan who, in accepting this accolade, issued the following rallying cry: “Recycling is more crucial than ever. Nevertheless, our recycled products are under pressure. Some governments and consumer associations are stepping up efforts to regulate their international trade. So please continue to work together to build a more sustainable world.”
“In naming Marc Natan as our first Legend, we could not have chosen a more deserving recipient.”
PAUL COYTE
IMPORTANT FACTS
The most commonly used non-ferrous metals are aluminium, copper, lead, zinc, nickel, titanium, cobalt, chromium and precious metals. Millions of tonnes of non-ferrous scrap are recovered annually and used by smelters, refiners, ingot makers, foundries and other manufacturers. Secondary materials are essential to the industry’s survival because even new metals often require the combined use of recycled materials.
According to several estimates, the recycled non-ferrous metals market as a whole was worth more than US$ 90 billion in 2018.
New metals made using recycled material
Owing to the limited availability of non-ferrous metals, the unrestricted flow of scrap from country to country according to industrial and consumer demand is crucial. BIR has consistently campaigned for the free movement of secondary raw materials to avoid shortages in certain geographical areas and surpluses in others. Import barriers could limit the supply to the manufacturing industry in some countries.
BIR’s major study entitled “Review of Global Non-Ferrous Scrap Flows” focuses on copper and aluminium. Owing to the industrial importance of both metals, there are very few countries in the world which do not trade in aluminium scrap or in copper/copper alloy scrap. The research reveals that scrap usage for copper - both for secondary refined copper production and direct use of scrap - increased worldwide by 41% from 5.9 million tonnes in 2000 to 8.3 million tonnes in 2015 (worth around US$ 46 billion at that time). Production of aluminium from scrap increased by 86% from 8.4 million tonnes in 2000 to 15.6 million tonnes in 2015 (worth around US$ 26 billion at that time).
RECYCLING PROCESSES
The metal recycling industry has an efficient structure with numerous small companies purchasing scrap material and feeding this to highly-effective larger international businesses.
Non-ferrous metal recycling involves some, or all, of the following steps:
Sorting and dismantling: In order to be recycled appropriately, different types of non-ferrous metals need to be separated from each other, as well as from other recyclables such as paper and plastic.
Baling: Non-ferrous materials are compacted into large blocks to facilitate handling and transportation
Shearing: Hydraulic machinery capable of exerting enormous pressure is used to cut metals into manageable sizes
Shredding: Shredders incorporate rotating magnetic drums to separate non-ferrous from ferrous metals.
Further separation: This is achieved using electrical currents, high-pressure air flows and liquid flotation/media separation systems. More processing may be needed.
Melting: The recovered materials are melted down in a furnace, poured into casters and shaped into ingots. These ingots are either used in the foundry industry or they can be transformed into flat sheets and other wrought products such as tubing, which are then used to manufacture new products.
ALUMINIUM
APPLICATIONS
Aluminium has enormous recycling potential and is often reused for the same application for which it was originally manufactured. Its strength, flexibility and light weight make it ideal for:
- Building & construction: Window frames, building structures, roofs, etc.
- Transportation: Aluminium is used in aircraft, trains, boats, cars and trucks, as well as in smaller vehicles such as bicycles, motorbikes and other mobility devices such as wheelchairs.
- Packaging: Aluminium is used mostly in the form of cans and foil.
- Electricity: Since 1945, aluminium has replaced copper in high-voltage transmission lines.
- Cooking and tableware.
RECYCLING FACTS
- One tonne of recycled aluminium saves up to 8 tonnes of bauxite, 14,000 kWh of energy, 40 barrels (6300 litres) of oil and 7.6 cubic metres of landfill space.
- Recycling aluminium uses up to 95% less energy than producing aluminium using virgin raw materials.
- Recycling one aluminium can saves enough energy to power a 100-watt bulb for almost four hours.
- The aluminium drinks can is the world’s most recycled container, with recycling rates approaching 100% in some countries.
COPPER
Applications
After silver, copper has the best electrical conductivity of all the elements. It is also a very good thermal conductor and is readily alloyed with other metals like lead, tin and zinc for foundry applications to produce, among other goods, products for the transmission of water such as valves.
Other common applications for recovered copper include:
- Electrical applications: Wires, circuits, switches and electromagnets.
- Piping: Plumbing fittings and also refrigeration, air-conditioning and water supply systems.
- Roofing and insulation.
- Household items: cookware, doorknobs and cutlery.
Recycling facts
- Copper’s recycling value is so high that premium-grade scrap holds at least 95% of the value of the primary metal from newly-mined ore.
- Recycling copper saves up to 85% of the energy used in primary production.
- By using copper scrap instead of adopting the primary route, CO2 emissions are reduced by around 65%.
LEAD
Applications
The vast majority of recycled lead is used in batteries. Other applications include:
- Roofing.
- As a barrier to radiation in, for example, hospitals, dentists’ surgeries, laboratories and nuclear installations.
Recycling facts
- 50% of the lead produced and used each year throughout the world has been used before in other products.
- 80% of modern lead usage is in the production of batteries - of which more than 99% are recycled, according to the International Lead Association.
- Using secondary lead instead of ore reduces CO2 emissions by 99%.
ZINC
Applications
Zinc is present in everyday life in the form of coins. However, it also has other important uses:
- Galvanization: Zinc is commonly applied as a coating to protect iron and steel from corrosion.
- Batteries: As an anode component material.
- Brass: Created by alloying zinc and copper.
Recycling facts
- 60% of total zinc production is still in use while the global end-of-life recycling rate for zinc is around 45%, according to the International Zinc Association.
- Secondary zinc production uses 76% less energy than primary.
- Old zinc scrap consists primarily of die-cast parts, brass objects, end-of-life vehicles, household appliances, old air-conditioning ducts, obsolete highway barriers and street lighting.
TIN
Applications
Apart from precious metals, tin is one of the most expensive non-ferrous metals. Hence, recycling from secondary materials is very important. Its varied applications include:
- Cans: Used to make some cans, tinplate is obtained by covering steel sheet with a thin layer of tin.
- Car production: Tin increases the resistance of the motor block, piston rings and clutch plates.
- Springs of any kind become tougher through the addition of tin.
Recycling facts
- Primary production of tin requires 99% more energy than secondary production.
- Refined tin use in 2018 was 372,000 tonnes, according to an estimate from the International Tin Association. Solder accounted for almost half the total, with other uses including chemicals, tinplate, lead-acid batteries and copper alloys. The use of recycled tin as a proportion of total tin use was calculated to be around 32%.
Divisional Board
