Byproducts and Recycling of CRM for Defence

A new circular industrial supply chain for European Strategic Raw Materials.

Leonardo has launched an industrial programme dedicated to the recovery of metal scraps generated by its production sites, with the aim of creating an efficient and sustainable European supply chain for titanium, aluminium and magnesium recovery.

The project contributes directly to the priorities of the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA), reducing dependence on extra-EU imports and increasing the use of secondary raw materials with a high recycled content. 

Waste recovery: from scrap to strategic resource

The programme introduces advanced cleaning, separation and briquetting technologies – used to create cylindrical cubes (briquettes) in which the CRM shavings are aggregated using a press – to transform scraps and production residues into certified by-products, thanks to processes capable of reducing emulsions to below 5% and ensuring high-quality feedstock for European foundries and steelworks.

This activity reduces waste production, improves material traceability and provides secondary raw materials suitable for aeronautical and defence applications, strengthening the resilience of the supply chain, by reducing dependency on extra-EU suppliers.

A cross-divisional collaboration across Leonardo business areas

The project construction phase is already underway, involving the Group’s business areas:

• briquetting plants, operational in Nola (Napoli, Italy), Venegono (Varese, Italy) and Cisterna di Latina (Latina, Italy);
• further installations are planned at all major Leonardo sites within the next few months, with the intention of also creating cross-border benefits involving plants outside Italy;
• work is underway to adapt storage and logistics areas to prevent contamination and ensure that the quality of the recovered material in maintained.

Bilateral agreements with European foundries

To ensure that the circular cycle is fully closed, Leonardo is establishing and expanding bilateral agreements with specialized foundries dedicated to melting by-products and reintroducing them into the European market. In addition to recycling, these partnerships also secure Leonardo with materials with a high recycled content, benefiting the entire aerospace and defence sector. Moreover, partnerships established with stakeholders located outside Italy, will also generate cross-border benefits. 

Duration and commissioning

The project is expected to run from 2026, with full operation estimated within three years.

Development

This initiative, focused on recovery within Leonardo's plants, represents the first phase of the project.

A second -scaling up- phase is also being defined, aiming to expand the model beyond the company's perimeter and increase European processing capacity through extensive collaborations with foundries, suppliers and industrial operators.

The goal is to establish virtuous partnerships with Leonardo's entire suppliers’ ecosystem and potential off-takers, increase the volumes of recovered scraps and promote formal commitments by foundries to ensure the recycling and reintroduction of materials into the EU market.