Circular Materials raises €11.8M to mine metals from wastewater
What's the deal? Italian startup Circular Materials has secured €11.8 million to scale technology that recovers critical raw materials from industrial wastewater. The SAFE financing was backed by CDP Venture CapitalDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, the EIC Fund, EIT RawMaterialsDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, 360 Capital, CorbitesDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → and LumarDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →.
What's the endgame? The company treats industrial wastewater to extract critical raw materials, turning a waste stream into a source of valuable metals. Its patented Supercritical Water Precipitation (SWaP) process recovers more than 99% of dissolved metals from complex wastewater streams while cutting hazardous sludge. The fresh capital will primarily fund a new Circular Materials Hub in Ferrara and the continued scale-up of the technology.
Why now? Europe is racing to secure supplies of critical raw materials, which are essential to batteries, electronics, and the clean-energy transition. Recovering these metals domestically reduces reliance on imports and offers a more sustainable alternative to conventional mining.
The signal: Circular Materials sits at the intersection of two priorities for the EU — cutting industrial waste and shoring up strategic supply chains. As demand for critical minerals climbs, recovery from waste streams is emerging as a route worth backing.
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