Did you say antimony?
Antimony (Sb) is a metalloid extracted from primary deposits found mainly in China, Russia and Tajikistan.
It is a critical element in Europe, at the heart of key industrial sectors
50%
Plastics additive
It is a flame retardant, usually in association with bromine in electronic plastics, as well as a catalyst for polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
20%
Glasses and semiconductors
Antimony has functions as a debubbling agent for solar panels, or as a doping agent for PN junctions in semiconductors.
Antimony, a critical raw material for Europe
The European Union has identified 34 critical raw materials essential to its economy and exposed to a high risk of supply disruption.
Antimony is on this list: it is essential for many strategic sectors, including energy, electronics, defense and health.
Adopted in 2024, the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) aims to strengthen Europe's strategic autonomy.
He sets several objectives for 2030:
at least 10% of the annual consumption of critical materials must be extracted within the EU,
40% must be processed or refined within the European territory.
and 25% must come from recycling.
These commitments are part of the industrial strategy of the European Green Deal , which aims to secure supply, increase circularity and support research and innovation in the value chains of critical materials.
Waste electrical and electronic equipment that may contain antimony
In summary
Antimony is mainly used as a flame retardant in plastics.
Every year, due to a lack of recycling solutions, these plastics are incinerated or buried.
Thousands of tons of antimony are lost each year, even though it is a critical component for European industry and the energy transition.