BBC on REE: Missing the green forest for the toxic trees
A misleading narrative that risks tainting the entire industry
The BBC’s recent feature on rare earths production spotlighted environmental and health challenges, particularly in China, painting a grim picture of scarred landscapes, polluted waters and severe health risks like bone deformities and arsenic poisoning.
At the heart of the BBC’s focus are China’s Bayan Obo mine, the world’s largest carbonatite-hosted rare earth deposit in Inner Mongolia, and Ganzhou’s ionic clay operations in Jiangxi Province, which supply critical heavy rare earths.
Bayan Obo’s open-pit mining has left vast tailings ponds and radioactive waste, polluting groundwater, while Ganzhou’s in-situ leaching has contaminated rivers and soils.
While BBC’s coverage of these issues is commendable, the narrative oversimplifies a dynamic global industry, overlooking sustainable practices outside China, improvements within China, and the indispensable role of rare earths in emissions-reducing, energy-efficient technologies. The emphasis on China’s environmental impacts alone risks a misleading narrative that taints the entire industry for uninformed readers.
This analysis, grounded in Adamas Intelligence’s data-driven insights, counters the inference that all rare earths production is toxic, showcases best-in-class operations and underscores the net positive benefits of rare earths in fostering a low-carbon future.
Not all rare earths production is equal
In a 2023 study by Filho et al., research demonstrates that sustainable practices are gaining momentum globally, particularly outside China, where innovative approaches by companies like MP Materials, Aclara Resources, Iluka Resources and Arafura Rare Earths are redefining industry standards.
These operations show that toxicity is not inherent to rare earths production but tied to specific practices that can be mitigated through advanced methods.
MP Materials (USA): At the Mountain Pass mine in California, MP Materials employs dry tailings technology, closed-loop water recycling and on-site reagent production to minimize waste and environmental impacts. Its on-site cogeneration facility enhances energy efficiency and reduces emissions, contributing to sustainable operations. These methods shrink the environmental footprint of carbonatite deposit mining, akin to China’s Bayan Obo mine, setting a precedent for cleaner operations. The company ensures a stable supply of light rare earths like neodymium and praseodymium, and NdFeB magnets, critical for electric vehicle (EV) motors, wind power generators, robotics and aerospace.
Aclara Resources (Brazil): Aclara’s Carina Module project, targeting production by 2028, focuses on ionic clay deposits rich in heavy rare earths like dysprosium and terbium, analogous to Ganzhou’s mines in China. Its patented Circular Mineral Harvesting process uses 100% recycled water, avoids explosives and minimizes land disturbance through revegetation and modular mining units. Generating no liquid waste and using non-toxic reagents, it complies with Brazil’s stringent environmental standards.
Iluka Resources (Australia): At its Eneabba refinery, Iluka will process monazite from mineral sands, a byproduct of zircon and titanium mining, using zero-liquid discharge and reagent recycling to reduce environmental impact. By leveraging historically accumulated stockpiles, Iluka reduces new mining activities, diversifying supply with low-waste methods.
Arafura Rare Earths (Australia): The Nolans project, a carbonatite deposit in Australia’s Northern Territory, integrates mining and processing with advanced environmental controls, including enclosed tailings storage to prevent leakage, closed-circuit water recycling to minimize freshwater use and progressive rehabilitation with native vegetation to restore ecosystems.
These examples, among others, illustrate that production methods vary significantly.
MP Materials and Arafura’s carbonatite operations mirror Bayan Obo’s geology but not its environmental legacy, while Aclara’s ionic clay approach aligns with Ganzhou’s but prioritizes sustainability.
China’s progress and persistent legacy
China, which dominates 90% of global refined rare earths production, has made strides in reforming its practices over the past two decades.
Since 2016, wastewater treatment facilities have cleaned millions of liters of effluent daily, neutralizing toxic ammoniacal nitrogen from rare earths processing.
As of mid-2017, China had closed illegal mines, consolidated production into six state-owned groups (and later into two) and implemented stricter environmental regulations to curb pollution and land degradation.
Revegetation programs plant native species like pines and bamboo across thousands of hectares to restore mined lands, reducing erosion and environmental harm, according to a 2016 China Water Risk report.
In a 2022 study by Liu et al., these measures were shown to have significantly reduced soil and water contamination in monitored sites, offering evidence of tangible progress.
Yet, the toxic legacy persists. Cleanup costs in Jiangxi Province alone are estimated at $5.5 billion, with only partial progress to-date.
Health issues, including cancers and neurological disorders, continue to afflict communities, as documented in numerous studies over the past decade, which highlight contamination of rivers like the Dongjiang.
This lingering damage overshadows China’s reforms and global best practices, skewing perceptions of the industry’s potential for sustainability and net positive benefits downstream.
Net positive benefits in energy efficiency, emissions reduction
Rare earths are essential to technologies driving the energy transition, enhancing energy efficiency and reducing emissions, counterbalancing production impacts.
Their unique properties enable critical applications, as outlined below:
Electric Motors and Generators: Neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium and terbium form high-strength magnets for EV motors and direct-drive wind turbines. According to a 2023 study by Horizon Technology, the increased efficiency of permanent magnet motors leads to lower greenhouse gas emissions through a reduction in power consumption and increased range between charges.
Batteries: Lanthanum enhances high-performance batteries for EVs and grid storage, supporting renewable energy integration. In a 2021 study by Zhang et al., lanthanum and aluminum co-doping in lithium-ion battery cathodes enhances charge-discharge cycle life by up to 20%, supporting reliable energy systems.
Lighting: Yttrium, europium and terbium enable energy-efficient LEDs, cutting electricity use by 80% versus incandescent bulbs, according to a 2025 study by the Energy Transitions Commission, significantly reducing global carbon emissions.
Emissions Reduction Catalysts: Cerium and lanthanum are critical in catalytic converters, which reduce vehicle exhaust emissions like nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide and other contaminants by up to 98%, as detailed in a 2025 study by Saikishan et al., improving urban air quality and mitigating pollution.
Fuel Cracking Catalysts: Cerium and lanthanum optimize petroleum refining, reducing coke deposition leading to longer catalyst lifespans, more stable operation and lower maintenance costs in refining processes according to a 2024 study by Akhtar et al.
Notably, Adamas Intelligence projects that electric vehicles, wind power generators and other energy-efficient motors, pumps and compressors will drive more than 50% of global rare earth magnet demand by 2035.
These technologies yield substantial carbon savings, outweighing production impacts when sustainable practices are employed.
Innovations in recycling and processing
Beyond mining, innovative companies are reducing environmental footprints through recycling and advanced processing:
Cyclic Materials (Canada): Using MagCycleSM and REEPureSM technologies, Cyclic recovers rare earths from end-of-life EV motors and other devices, cutting CO₂ emissions by 61.2% versus mining.
HyProMag (UK/USA): HyProMag’s Hydrogen Processing of Magnet Scrap (HPMS) recycles NdFeB magnets, achieving 88% energy savings and 98% toxicity reductions offering a sustainable magnet supply.
Ucore Rare Metals (North America): Ucore’s RapidSX separation technology, demonstrated at its Kingston, Ontario facility and slated for commercial deployment in Louisiana, achieves up to three times faster rare earth oxide (REO) separation with a footprint one-third that of conventional solvent extraction, using fewer extractants and solvents.
Rare Earth Salts (USA): Rare Earth Salts’ patented non-solvent extraction technology, which eliminates organic solvents, produces high-purity rare earth oxides with up to 90% less waste than conventional methods.
Phoenix Tailings (USA): Phoenix Tailings employs proprietary zero-carbon processes to extract rare earths, including from mining waste such as tailings and red mud, achieving no toxic byproducts while offsetting electricity use with renewable energy contracts.
ReElement Technologies (USA): ReElement’s patented Ligand Assisted Displacement (LAD) chromatography uses aqueous chemistry, minimizing hazardous waste, to recycle rare earths from magnets and manufacturing scrap, reducing waste by 80% compared to conventional methods, enabling sustainable production of high-purity magnet rare earth oxides.
These efforts are helping add a circular dimension to the rare earth supply chain, reducing reliance on primary mining.
The need for balanced reporting
The BBC’s narrative risks undermining public support for rare earth production and rare earth-dependent technologies, such as EVs, by focusing solely on China’s legacy of challenges.
Low prices and technical gaps remain hurdles, but innovations like those from Cyclic Materials and Phoenix Tailings, alongside MP Materials, Aclara, Iluka and Arafura’s practices, show significant progress.
According to a 2024 study by Liu et al., public awareness of critical minerals’ role in clean energy technologies fosters support for diverse policy strategies, such as enhanced recycling and resource development, to advance a sustainable low-carbon future.
Conclusions
Not all rare earths production is toxic.
MP Materials, Aclara, Iluka and Arafura exemplify sustainable practices, distinct from China’s Bayan Obo and Ganzhou operations despite geologic similarities.
China’s reforms, though overshadowed by a multi-billion-dollar cleanup legacy, reflect progress.
Rare earths power energy-efficient and emissions-reducing technologies, delivering net positive environmental benefits critical for achieving global climate goals.
Innovations in recycling and processing further enhance sustainability.
Meet with alternative rare earth and magnet suppliers
In September 2025, Adamas Intelligence will host Rare Earth Mines, Magnets & Motors 2025 in Toronto, an exclusive summit for the mine-to-application supply chain.
With China recently imposing stringent export controls, this two-day congress offers a unique, one-stop opportunity for end-users to hear from and connect with leading players from alternative and emerging rare earth supply chains.
Expect world-class speakers, actionable insights and unmatched networking opportunities.
Key themes for 2025 include robotics, advanced air mobility, and defense tech, along with the emerging alternative supply chain coming together upstream.
From Horizon Aircraft’s Cavorite X7 prototype on-site to a live demonstration of Boston Dynamics’ Spot robot on stage, the conference will showcase cutting-edge applications of rare earth permanent magnets like no other.
Beyond the conference program, two networking events, including a private Welcome Reception at the Hockey Hall of Fame, will help suppliers, investors and end-users foster valuable and enduring connections.
“Following the success of our inaugural event, we’re elevating the 2025 summit to deliver unmatched insights and networking opportunities,” said Ryan Castilloux, Managing Director at Adamas Intelligence. “From an inspirational fireside chat with tech-icon Steve Wozniak to live demonstrations of transformative technologies, this is a must-attend event for the rare supply chain and the end-users it serves.”
Register now at adamasevent.com to secure your spot and join the conversation shaping the future of the mine-to-magnet supply chain.
