What is RESourceEU, and why now?

The EU is accelerating critical raw material security (think rare earths, cobalt, lithium) with the RESourceEU Action Plan, adopted on 3 December 2025. From 2026 onward, recycling capacity, waste export rules, and supply chain diversification move to center stage. In this shift, e-waste becomes more than “waste”: it’s a compliance topic and a value-creation opportunity for companies.

What is RESourceEU, and why now?

The European Commission is stepping up efforts to strengthen the EU’s independence in critical and strategic raw materials used in green and digital technologies. Following the Critical Raw Materials Act adopted on 23 May 2024, the RESourceEU Action Plan was adopted on 3 December 2025 as part of a broader push to reinforce economic security and resilience.

The goal is clear:

• Protect EU industry against geopolitical and price shocks
• Support and scale critical raw material projects
• Diversify supply chains and deepen partnerships with like-minded countries

In the near term, the plan prioritizes value chains such as:

permanent magnets (rare earths), battery raw materials, and defense-related materials.

Key milestones on the road to 2026

RESourceEU is designed around tangible instruments and timelines—especially from 2026 onward. Key highlights include:

1) Institutional capacity: a “Critical Raw Materials Centre” (2026)

• A European Critical Raw Materials Centre is planned for 2026 to help coordinate the ecosystem and strengthen capabilities.

2) Financing: ~€3 billion mobilization

• A CRM Financing Hub is planned to coordinate funding instruments and support project development, with an expected mobilization of around €3 billion through various mechanisms.

3) Faster permitting: accelerating environmental authorizations

• A proposal is planned to speed up permitting, including environmental approvals, for critical raw material projects.

4) Waste exports and classification: a battery focus

• From September 2026, waste lithium-ion batteries and certain battery recycling residues (often referenced as “black mass”) are planned to be classified as hazardous waste, with a ban on exports to non-OECD countriesafter that date.
• To secure feedstock for EU recycling, proposals are planned to restrict exports of certain waste/scrap streams linked to permanent magnets (targeted by Q2 2026).

5) Metal scrap: aluminium—and potentially copper

• Measures for aluminium scrap are expected in spring 2026, and after monitoring, similar steps may be considered for copper scrap.

6) Circularity: WEEE revision on the horizon

• As part of a proposed Circular Economy Act expected in autumn 2026, a revision of the WEEE Directive(Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) is anticipated to improve collection and circular outcomes.

Why this matters to businesses

Critical raw materials are not only about mining and primary supply. E-waste can contain valuable materials—making it a strategic stream in risk management and resource security.

From a business perspective, RESourceEU sends three direct signals:

1. Traceability and reporting will become the baseline
2. Waste streams tied to batteries and magnet-containing products will face tighter controls
3. What used to be “waste cost” can become compliance + value

Where Mol-e fits into this transformation

Mol-e is an e-waste management initiative built to help organizations handle electronic waste in a fast, compliant, and sustainable way—and convert it into measurable outcomes.

Mol-e’s approach aligns closely with the direction RESourceEU points to:

Digital, traceable e-waste management

• A focus on tracking, reporting, and evaluating e-waste flows
• Building blocks that support transparent process monitoring, including digital documentation approaches

Compliance and certification support

Mol-e’s e-waste management model is designed to help organizations contribute to sustainability and compliance goals (e.g., alignment with management systems and reporting practices such as ISO 14001, ISO 14067, ISO 59010, ISO 27001, and relevant regulatory frameworks where applicable).

Employee engagement: gamification + social impact

• Participation models where e-waste drop-offs translate into points that can be converted into donations or reward options
• Awareness workshops and internal engagement activities to strengthen a “green culture” within organizations

What companies should do today (a practical checklist)

With 2026 measures approaching, you can start preparing now:

• Build an e-waste inventory: IT assets, small appliances, battery-containing items, etc.
• Standardize collection and segregation: especially for battery streams, magnet-containing products, and devices requiring secure handling
• Set up reporting infrastructure: metrics that can flow into sustainability reports and audits
• Design employee engagement: targets, incentives, communication, and participation mechanics
• Work with a compliant, licensed chain: reduce regulatory and reputational risk

Conclusion: In the critical raw materials era, e-waste management becomes a competitive advantage

The RESourceEU Action Plan elevates recycling and circularity as a pathway to supply security—while traceability, classification, and export rules become more decisive from 2026 onward.

At Mol-e, we support organizations in managing e-waste through a transparent, compliant process, driving internal participation and producing reportable sustainability outcomes.

Call to action: If you want to build an e-waste program aligned with your organization’s goals, reach out to Mol-e to design and launch a tailored solution.