On October 14th, a new edition of the International E-Waste Day took place — an initiative promoted by the WEEE Forum, which brings together the main collective systems in Europe dedicated to the management of electronic waste.
This global event aims to raise awareness about the proper management of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and the value these materials have as a source of new resources.
In its 2025 edition, the central theme focused on Critical Raw Materials (CRMs) — essential elements for the green and digital transition.
These materials, found in mobile phones, computers, electric vehicles, and renewable technologies, are vital for technological development. However, Europe still largely depends on imports, and many of these materials are extracted in a limited number of countries outside the European Union.
To address this challenge, the European Critical Raw Materials Act sets ambitious targets for 2030:
- 25% of critical raw materials should come from the recycling of electronic and industrial waste
- 40% should be processed within the European Union
- 10% should be extracted in European territory
- No more than 65% of any single critical raw material should come from one third country
The challenge remains that many of these materials are lost when devices end up forgotten in drawers, landfills, or incinerators. Every correctly collected phone, laptop, or household appliance helps recover valuable resources and reduce external dependency.
At ECOTIC, we joined the E-Waste Day 2025, reaffirming our commitment to responsible WEEE collection, environmental education, and the circular economy as key pillars to make better use of the resources we already have.
