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Robin Wiener

The recycled materials industry stands at the front lines of a critical moment. Electrification and decarbonization are driving demand for steel, copper, nickel, aluminum, lithium, and other metals. Recycling makes it possible for manufacturers to meet the growing demand for products that use these materials and extend the lifecycle of these products long into the future. We are building the renewable, high-quality supply chains that make cleaner manufacturing possible. Our recycling operations are essential infrastructure for America’s economic future.

As the U.S. accelerates toward sustainable manufacturing, the role of recycled materials is vital at every stage of the supply chain, cutting emissions, strengthening resource resilience, driving technological advancement, expanding workforce opportunities, and underpinning long-term economic growth.

The reality is clear: The U.S. cannot build a resilient, decarbonized economy without recycled materials – or without the people and operations that produce them.

The Supply Chain Imperative

The recycled materials industry is the cornerstone of a sustainable supply chain, helping meet growing demand for materials critical to electrification and decarbonization technologies. More than 90% of materials like cobalt, nickel, copper, and aluminum from lithium-ion batteries can be recovered and reused to make new batteries and products. More than 70% of steel made in the U.S. is produced with recycled steel. (source: ). And, according to our forthcoming economic report, about 77% of recycled material processed in the U.S. is used domestically, supplying manufacturers with a stable, reliable source of high-quality material.

Manufacturers understand that recycled materials are essential to building stronger, more sustainable supply chains. They are looking for domestic, reliable sources of high-quality materials that support their business goals while reducing carbon emissions. They want long-term partners who can deliver consistency, quality, and confidence in the materials they supply. And as demand grows for new infrastructure, energy systems, and advanced technologies, success will increasingly depend on recycled materials.

We are ready to meet that demand. For recyclers, this presents an opportunity: those who work as partners in cleaner manufacturing command premium pricing and build long-term buyer relationships.

Increasing Efficiency Depends on Recycled Materials

The impact of the industry is measurable and significant: Using recycled materials instead of primary resources reduces carbon emissions dramatically – up to 96% for aluminum alone (source: ). These are not marketing claims. These are scientific reductions in the carbon footprint of industrial production.

The business imperative for manufacturers is clear: sustainable infrastructure and essential goods require recycled materials. Renewable energy systems need copper, steel, and aluminum. Electric vehicles (EVs) require lithium, cobalt, nickel and steel. Grid modernization infrastructure relies on metals and rare earth elements.

Every pound of material recovered and processed represents avoided emissions. Every ton of recycled steel reduces reliance on primary metals. Every container made with recycled plastic reduces oil extraction. Every action represents a lower-carbon, more resilient manufacturing base.

The Battery Recycling Market and the Electrification Wave

EV adoption continues to accelerate, creating both operational challenges and revenue opportunities for recyclers. EV batteries contain valuable materials: lithium, cobalt, nickel, and other metals. At end-of-life, recycling these batteries reduces emissions by up to 81% compared to mining and processing new materials (source: ). From a manufacturer’s perspective, this is a tangible sustainability achievement. Recycled battery materials command premium pricing, and recovered materials have real market value that will increase as EV adoption expands.

For recycling facilities and processors that invest in battery handling protocols, lithium-ion battery recycling represents a growing revenue stream. The operational requirements are specific – battery safety education and proper handling procedures are prerequisites – and early movers in this space are establishing supplier relationships with manufacturers and capturing a competitive advantage in a rapidly expanding market.

Sustainability as Business Strategy

Today, the sustainability conversation is increasingly focused on business value — and recycled materials help deliver both. Recycled materials:

• Increase resilience by diversifying supply away from international markets
• Find efficiencies through technology, data, and process optimization

This isn’t environmental idealism meeting business reality – it’s business strategy that delivers responsible outcomes.

The Socioeconomic Benefits of Sustainability

Sustainability isn’t only environmental. It’s also socioeconomic. According to our latest economic data, the recycled materials industry supported over 600,000 jobs nationally, generating $52.2 billion in annual wages in 2025. These are well-paying jobs accessible to all people, regardless of their education level, age, or geography.

Safety is our industry’s number one core value. Our ReMA motto – “Safely, or Not At All” – and our longstanding OSHA Alliance demonstrate our commitment to employee well-being. Building sustainable infrastructure means building safe operations. That’s foundational to our industry’s value proposition.

Technology and Competitive Positioning

Artificial intelligence, optical scanners, laser induced spectroscopy, and other advanced sorting systems are reshaping facility economics. AI-powered sorting systems can now identify and separate materials that were previously unsortable, creating entirely new product categories. The recycled materials industry recently developed a new specification – called Vesper – for material that advanced sorting made possible to separate for the first time.

Recyclers deploying AI technologies and advanced sorting systems are capturing higher volumes of higher quality materials, establishing stronger manufacturer partnerships, and improving operational efficiency. For operators considering technology investments, this is a critical moment. Early adopters are setting industry standards for material quality and traceability while building a durable competitive advantage.

Industry Scale and Opportunity

The recycled materials industry generated $183.6 billion in economic impact in 2025. We’re not operating at the margins of the economy – we’re operating at its foundation. Manufacturers rely on recycled materials to operate, electrify, and innovate. Electrification is accelerating material demand and creating urgency around sustainable sourcing. Technology is unlocking new recovery opportunities.

The Strategic Opportunity

The recycled materials industry is critical to manufacturing that is both resilient and sustainable. Forward-thinking operators are positioning themselves accordingly:

• Investing in technology (AI-powered sorting, battery capability, and advanced data systems)
• Building quality reputation through consistency, reliability, and traceability
• Prioritizing safety and workforce excellence
• Understanding material economics and buyer requirements
• Positioning their facilities as manufacturers’ partner in reducing environmental footprints

The industry is evolving rapidly as electrification is creating unprecedented need for recycled materials. Manufacturers need reliable, domestic, sustainable materials. The technology exists to recover materials at scale, and those who are investing now are getting a head start.

Sustainability and business success aren’t in tension – they go hand in hand. A resilient, sustainable future is possible—and it is being built by the recycled materials industry.

Robin Wiener is President of Recycled Materials Association (ReMA). She can be reached at [email protected].