# Building a supply chain for rare earth elements

- Show: [Catalyst](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst)
- Published: 2024-04-25
- Length: 39m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2024-04-25-building-a-supply-chain-for-rare-earth-elements

## Summary

Ahmad Ghahreman, CEO and cofounder of Cyclic Materials, explains the critical role of rare earth elements (REEs) in permanent magnets for EVs and wind turbines, noting that China currently controls over 90% of downstream processing. He details Cyclic’s two-step recycling technology, which separates magnets from end-of-life products and converts them into high-purity mixed rare earth oxides, bypassing the environmental issues of virgin mining. Ghahreman argues that recycling can supply 40-50% of global demand by 2030-2032, offering a geopolitically secure alternative to China-dominated supply chains.

## Chapters

- [0:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2024-04-25-building-a-supply-chain-for-rare-earth-elements#t=3) Introduction: Catalyst and Rare Earth Elements
- [4:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2024-04-25-building-a-supply-chain-for-rare-earth-elements#t=255) Defining Rare Earth Elements and Magnet Applications
- [10:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2024-04-25-building-a-supply-chain-for-rare-earth-elements#t=605) The Current Supply Chain and China's Dominance
- [15:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2024-04-25-building-a-supply-chain-for-rare-earth-elements#t=941) From Ore to Magnet: The Processing Steps
- [22:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2024-04-25-building-a-supply-chain-for-rare-earth-elements#t=1377) Geopolitics: China's Export Ban and Western Response
- [25:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2024-04-25-building-a-supply-chain-for-rare-earth-elements#t=1530) Substitution: Rare Earth-Free Magnets
- [28:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2024-04-25-building-a-supply-chain-for-rare-earth-elements#t=1707) Ramping Up Non-Chinese Mining and Processing
- [31:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2024-04-25-building-a-supply-chain-for-rare-earth-elements#t=1884) Cyclic Materials' Recycling Technology and Hub-and-Spoke Model
- [37:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2024-04-25-building-a-supply-chain-for-rare-earth-elements#t=2244) Recycling's Potential Share of Global Demand

## Topics

- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)
- [Sustainability & circular products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sustainability-and-circularity)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Cyclic Materials (company)
- MP Materials (company)
- Linus (company)
- Vacuum Schmelze (company)
- Energy Hub (company)
- Bloom Energy (company)
- Neodymium (other)
- Praseodymium (other)
- Dysprosium (other)
- Terbium (other)
- Samarium (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [From the Battlefield to the Supply Chain: A Marine’s Mission to Secure Critical Minerals with Ian Killough, President of Ridgeline Elements](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/tough-tech-vets/2025-02-10-from-the-battlefield-to-the-supply-chain-a-marines-mission-to-secure-critical-mi) (Tough Tech Vets)
- [Turning the E-Waste Stream Into a National Asset w/ Matt Bedingfield](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2026-07-21-turning-the-e-waste-stream-into-a-national-asset-w-matt-bedingfield) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [Magnets, China & IEEE - Xenomorphic Xerox Xebec](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2011-10-25-magnets-china-ieee-xenomorphic-xerox-xebec) (The Amp Hour)
- [274: The Auto Rescue, Critical Minerals, and Moving Manufacturing Forward with Representative Haley Stevens](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-02-10-274-the-auto-rescue-critical-minerals-and-moving-manufacturing-forward-with-repr) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [Revolutionizing Electric Motors: The Sustainable Solution with Rory Brogan of Torev Motors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-01-18-revolutionizing-electric-motors-the-sustainable-solution-with-rory-brogan-of-tor) (Hardware to Save a Planet)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2024-04-25-building-a-supply-chain-for-rare-earth-elements. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Catalyst.