Key Challenges and Opportunities for an Effective Supply Chain System in the Catalyst Recycling Market–A Case Study of Poland

Abstract

Increasing public awareness about low emission and stricter standards has a significant impact on the industry. The use of catalytic converters provides one of the solutions to the problem of lowering the amount of exhaust fumes. As most catalytic converters contain a combination of the three metals Pt, Pd and Rh, the manufacture of catalysts for automobiles is the largest sector of demand for and consumption of PGMs (platinum group metals). In Poland, the recycling system for catalysts is still in the development stage, but there is a significant trend of increase mainly due to EU policy on the circular economy. Due to frequent legal changes, the market is not fully transparent and the price for used catalysts can vary significantly. Therefore, apart from the recycling technology itself, it is important for the company to have a transparent method of testing the catalysts. The aim of this article was to identify the key opportunities and challenges to improving the catalyst recycling system in Poland. The organisational solutions have been analysed to show that an effective system could be implemented by creating a network between suppliers and customers with the use of good laboratory equipment and IT applications. The article defines the key opportunities and challenges such as the need to invest in an innovative laboratory and software for assessment of chemical composition and economic value of waste. A great opportunity for the development of this sector is the high demand for critical raw materials such as PGMs, which can be supported by research and development (R&D) projects.