58.1% of decommissioned PV modules pass automated I-V screening for second-life use, with a median residual life of ~12 years among those; however, 14% of modules passing I-V+EL screening still fail wet-leakage tests, signaling insulation safety must be tested separately from performance.
Lululemon-backed Syntetica raises a $30M Series A to scale recycled nylon pellets in France, backed by public funds (Bpifrance, EIC) and big fashion brands, amid regulatory tailwinds and nylon price volatility.
Aluminum prices have risen about 20%, and recycling startups are using AI to improve recovery of aluminum and other critical minerals to unlock a larger supply.
The piece argues that copper faces a peak-and-shortfall scenario due to declining ore grades, stubbornly slow new discoveries, rising extraction costs, and surging demand from electrification and data centers, with regulatory and geopolitical risks likely amplifying price volatility and a limited recycling fill-in.
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