CIWM report highlights six critical materials squandered by UK economy
‘Lost Opportunities?’ study commissioned by incoming CIWM President, Dr David Greenfield, identifies six overlooked resources squandered despite supply chain vulnerabilities
The UK squanders valuable materials worth billions annually whilst maintaining a circular economy rate of just 7.5, according to a new report from the Chartered Institute of Waste Management (CIWM).
The 2025 Presidential Report, released yesterday at the inauguration of Dr David Greenfield as organisation’s 108 President, highlights how critical resources including lithium, cooking oil and seafood shells are being lost to the economy despite growing supply chain risks.
CIWM's "Lost Opportunities? Winning Back Materials to Drive the UK's Circular Economy" study reveals that the UK uses 15.3 tonnes of virgin materials per person annually—almost double the sustainable level of 8 tonnes.
The research examined six commonly overlooked materials: used cooking oil, seafood shells, wool, lithium, gallium and tin.
The report identifies significant untapped value across these materials. Most UK household used cooking oil remains uncollected, contributing to 300,000 sewer blockages annually costing £200 million. Meanwhile, the UK imports 95 per cent of its cooking oil-based biofuels worth £250 million annually.
Similarly, an estimated 20 per cent of UK wool fails to reach market as income no longer covers shearing costs, requiring £1.20 per kilogram whilst prices average just 81.9p per kilogram. The UK generates 30,000 tonnes annually of scallop, cockle and whelk shells—mostly entering residual waste streams despite potential applications in pharmaceuticals and construction.
Critical material vulnerabilities exposed.
The report highlights acute vulnerabilities in critical mineral supply chains. China dominates gallium production with 94.9 per cent of refined output and 92.2 per cent of germanium, whilst lithium battery fires cost the UK over £1 billion annually.
Battery-related waste fires surged 71 per cent in 2024, with over 1,200 incidents recorded compared to 700 in 2022. Survey data shows 94 per cent of UK local authorities consider battery fires an increasing challenge.
Despite these risks, only 3 per cent of lithium is currently recycled globally, whilst 87 per cent of the metal is used in batteries. The UK lacks domestic processing capacity for many critical materials, with 80 per cent of metal scrap shipped overseas for recycling.
The study reveals that 56 per cent of UK household waste enters residual streams, whilst the UK imports 80 per cent of raw materials used domestically. This compares unfavourably with the EU's circular material use rate of 11.8 per cent.
Six recommendations for transformation
The CIWM report presents six recommendations to capture lost opportunities. These include aligning UK policy with international best practice, developing business cases for material recovery, and implementing public sector procurement policies supporting secondary resources.
Dr Ryan Woodard, who researched and authored the report, identified significant innovation potential across the materials examined. Shell-derived textiles produce 80-90 per cent fewer carbon emissions than leather, whilst recycling lithium-ion batteries uses 80 per cent less energy than conventional mining.
The study recommends establishing a National Material Data Hub and cross-organisational research repository to address current knowledge gaps. It also calls for coordinated cross-sector collaboration to overcome systemic challenges in material recovery.
New CIWM leadership focuses on circular transformation
Speaking at his inauguration at the Houses of Parliament, Dr Greenfield described waste as "a design flaw" resulting from "systems built around convenience, not circularity."
"We use over a billion tons of virgin materials per annum as a planet. That's 15.3 tons per capita in the UK, well above the global average," Dr Greenfield told attendees on the Westminster Terrace. "Our actual rate is only seven and a half percent. But in context, that means 90 per cent of material input still comes from virgin extraction."
Dr Greenfield, who serves on the UK Government Circular Economy Taskforce, emphasised supply chain vulnerabilities. "We're not just wasting resources. We're exposing ourselves to massive supply chain risks," he said.
Sarah Poulter, CEO of CIWM, welcomed Dr Greenfield's appointment: "He brings extensive expertise in waste management and circular economy innovation. In his professional roles he champions sustainable resource recovery and innovation on a day-to-day basis."
