For companies aiming to build circularity in their value chains, every material matters.
McKinsey’s Materials Circularity series is a practical resource for manufacturers and supply chain leaders looking to lower materials emissions, achieve cost savings, and diversify their supply chains. Each article offers a clear overview of a key material, breaking down complex supply chains and identifying opportunities to build circularity.
Whether working toward net-zero goals, navigating resource constraints, or designing products and supply chains for circularity, this series can help leaders make informed, strategic decisions.
Case Study
How Apple is helping unearth a path toward increasing the global use of circular materials
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As the need for recycled materials continues to grow, Apple worked with McKinsey to understand how expanding circular value chains could help meet the demand.
Article
Looking upstream: A path to unlocking low-carbon, circular materials
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Many value chains need to collaborate to create low-carbon, circular materials for complex products. This overview offers a guide on where to start for materials producers and downstream customers.
Article
Chasing the lost copper: Global scrap and its role in decarbonization
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Increasing circularity in copper could significantly lower emissions—but first, the industry will need to capture uncollected copper scrap.
Article
Aligning the value chain to decarbonize plastics
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Decarbonizing and building circularity into plastics will require alignment across the entire plastics value chain.
Article
Seeing clearly: Decarbonizing the flat glass industry with circularity
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Decarbonizing the glass industry would have a widespread beneficial effect across industries—but first, companies need to gain insight into which levers are feasible and how to scale them.
Article
Cleaning up mixed scrap: Decarbonizing aluminum through circularity
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The energy transition is leading to increased demand for aluminum. Recovering specific alloys from mixed scrap could play a critical role in achieving net-zero emissions and improving circularity.
Article
Powering the energy transition’s motor: Circular rare earth elements
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Demand for rare earth elements needed for magnets will likely surge over the next ten years. Postconsumer scrap could unlock additional supply, although recovery remains a challenge.