DEScycle and Mitsubishi Corporation collaborate to advance sustainable recycling and strengthen the global supply of critical minerals
London, United Kingdom, 12 March 2026 – A new partnership between metals processing developer DEScycle and global business company Mitsubishi Corporation is expected to strengthen efforts in sustainable e-waste recycling and critical metals recovery. The collaboration marks an important step toward improving how valuable materials are extracted from discarded electronic products while supporting the growing demand for strategic minerals used in modern technologies.
The agreement builds on Mitsubishi Corporation’s earlier investment in DEScycle and positions both companies as preferred partners for the Japanese market. Through this collaboration, the two organizations plan to explore opportunities for recovering and processing metals from electronic waste using innovative recycling technologies.
Electronic waste, often referred to as e-waste, is one of the fastest-growing waste streams worldwide. Discarded devices such as smartphones, computers, batteries, and electronic equipment contain valuable metals, including copper, gold, lithium, and rare earth elements. Recovering these materials efficiently has become increasingly important as global demand rises for materials used in electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, and advanced manufacturing.
DEScycle brings to the partnership its proprietary metals recovery platform based on ionometallurgy technology. This advanced method uses deep eutectic solvent chemistry to extract metals from electronic scrap more efficiently than traditional smelting processes. The technology is designed to use less energy, reduce environmental impact, and transform electronic waste into a valuable secondary resource.
Mitsubishi Corporation will contribute its global trading network, operational expertise, and strong relationships with industrial customers. By leveraging its market reach, Mitsubishi will help connect recovered metals to global supply chains while exploring new investment opportunities related to sustainable materials processing.
The collaboration arrives at a time when demand for critical minerals continues to grow rapidly. Industries such as electrification, artificial intelligence hardware, renewable energy infrastructure, and advanced manufacturing rely heavily on strategic metals. As demand increases, companies and governments are looking for cost-effective and environmentally responsible ways to secure stable supplies of these resources.
To support its technology development, DEScycle is currently constructing a demonstration plant in the United Kingdom. The facility, funded by Mitsubishi Corporation, will showcase the company’s metals recovery platform and demonstrate how the technology can be scaled for wider industrial use. The plant is expected to serve as a model for future facilities that can be deployed in multiple regions.
The company’s approach focuses on distributed and scalable recycling systems that can recover metals from existing electronic waste rather than relying solely on traditional mining. This strategy aligns with the growing focus on circular economy solutions, where materials are reused and recycled to reduce environmental impact and support sustainable resource management.
DEScycle co-founder and chief commercial officer Fred White said the partnership creates new opportunities for expanding the company’s technology into international markets.
Japan is widely recognized as a global leader in electronic waste recycling and resource efficiency, making it an important location for testing innovative metals recovery technologies. By combining DEScycle’s processing platform with Mitsubishi Corporation’s market expertise, the partnership aims to explore practical applications of sustainable recycling solutions within the Japanese market.
In addition to Japan and the United Kingdom, DEScycle has expressed plans to expand its technology into other major industrial regions, including the United States and Europe. The company aims to replicate its recycling model through distributed facilities that can recover valuable materials from electronic waste while supporting domestic supply chains.
Industry experts increasingly view e-waste recycling as a critical component of future resource management. Recovering metals from existing waste streams can help reduce dependence on traditional mining while supporting global sustainability goals.
As technology use continues to grow worldwide, partnerships like the one between DEScycle and Mitsubishi Corporation highlight how innovation in recycling infrastructure can play a key role in building more resilient and sustainable supply chains for the materials that power modern economies.
