Europe should scale up its recycling infrastructure for titanium

Titanium is a strategic resource, increasingly sought-after in a variety of different sectors, including aerospace and defense. But with Europe too reliant on foreign powers, establishing a domestic titanium recycling ecosystem is of key importance, according to a new study from H&Z Management Consulting.

Faced with strategic vulnerabilities in its titanium supply chain, particularly for the critical aerospace and defense sectors, the European Union is increasingly focused on establishing a robust domestic titanium recycling system.

There has been a renewed push from the EU for military self-determination, and better access to strategic resources is now a major item on the agenda for Brussels. With Trump again in the White House, the future of NATO looks uncertain and Europe is scrambling to boost its security.

Europe’s push for better access to resources like titanium was already part of the bloc’s strategic vision in legislation like the EU Critical Raw Materials Act from 2022, which set a target for 25% of titanium demand to be met via recycling by 2030.

Currently, Europe lacks domestic production of titanium sponge (the primary intermediary product) and mostly exports its high-value aerospace scrap to the United States. But with the tides shifting on aerospace and defense manufacturing, those scraps could instead be fed into Europe’s emerging titanium recycling industry.

There is currently only one major titanium recycling facility on the continent: The Ecotitanium plant in Saint-Georges-de-Mons, France. It was established – with the help of a €30 million loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB) – as the first European plant capable of recycling aerospace-grade titanium alloys.

Building a recycling infrastructure

Developing an advanced recycling infrastructure would help the EU reinforce its position as a leader in aerospace and defense manufacturing, while also reducing dependency on foreign suppliers, including Russia and the US. Going forward, more investment and collaborative efforts between governments and industry are going to be essential.

Advanced recycling technologies are seen as key to improving efficiency and strengthening Europe's ability to meet its own titanium needs. There are various different specific methods for recycling titanium and newly emerging innovations could help to further the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of recycling plants.

The United States is currently the world’s second-largest titanium metal producer, just behind China. Russia is also a major producer, exporting aerospace grade titanium to 50 countries across Europe, Asia, and the United States. Despite European sanctions on Russian imports, titanium was excluded from the list, meaning the EU is still dependent on Russia for the critical resource.

Regulatory and industry changes are clearly needed considering Europe’s reliance on these (unreliable) trading partners. There is, on the one hand, the war in Ukraine and the looming threat of conflict with Russia, while on the other, the rising US-EU trade tensions and threats of tariffs from Trump. Europe would do well to achieve more sovereignty.

“Establishing a closed-loop titanium recycling system in Europe is essential to securing supply, reducing reliance on external sources, and enhancing sustainability by capturing high scrap rates from aerospace manufacturing,” said the report by H&Z Management Consulting, which was led by Germany-based Matthias Obermayer.

Yet progress has to date been too slow. Ecotitanium in France remains the only major facility for aerospace grade titan, and there are currently no public or private investment initiatives announced to scale up EU’s recycling infrastructure.

“Without immediate action, Europe’s aerospace sector will remain exposed to supply risks, threatening long-term industrial resilience and strategic autonomy,” noted the authors.

“Achieving recycling goals requires collaboration across governments, OEMs, distributors, and recycling specialists. By investing in advanced recycling technologies and strengthening domestic supply capabilities, Europe can reduce dependency on foreign suppliers while reinforcing its position as a leader in aerospace and defense manufacturing.”

Conclusion

A closed-loop titanium recycling system is imperative for Europe’s industrial resilience, sustainability, and competitiveness. By investing in advanced recycling technologies and strengthening domestic supply capabilities, Europe can reduce dependency on foreign suppliers while reinforcing its position as a leader in aerospace and defense manufacturing. This will support Europe’s military defence capabilities.