As raw material costs rise and supply chains become more volatile, SME manufacturers are exploring smarter, more sustainable ways to source materials. One often-overlooked opportunity is urban mining – the process of reclaiming valuable materials from products and infrastructure that have reached the end of their useful lives.
What is urban mining?
Urban mining involves extracting valuable raw materials – especially metals and minerals – from urban infrastructure, electronic waste (e-waste), and end-of-life products. Key materials reclaimed through urban mining include:
· Precious metals (gold, silver, palladium, platinum) from electronics.
· Base metals (copper, aluminium, steel) from wiring and appliances.
· Rare earth elements from batteries and motors.
· Plastics, glass, and composites from consumer goods and construction.
Unlike traditional recycling, urban mining focuses on recovering materials for reuse, repurposing, or remanufacturing, creating a circular economy that reduces reliance on virgin extraction.
Why urban mining matters for SME manufacturers
1. Supply chain resilience
Geopolitical tensions and logistical disruptions threaten global supply chains. Urban mining allows SMEs to access secondary materials locally, reducing reliance on distant suppliers and enhancing supply chain stability.
2. Lower environmental footprint
Virgin material extraction is energy-intensive and polluting. By using reclaimed materials, manufacturers can lower greenhouse gas emissions, water use, and environmental degradation, aligning with sustainability targets.
3. Cost competitiveness
As the cost of virgin materials rises, urban mining offers a cost-effective alternative. Local sourcing and partnerships with waste processors can reduce material costs, giving SMEs a competitive edge.
4. Circular economy readiness

Urban mining supports circular production models. By designing products for disassembly and incorporating recycled materials, SMEs can tap into emerging markets for circular products and differentiate themselves in a competitive landscape.
Practical applications for SME manufacturers
Urban mining can be applied across various industries. Here are a few examples:
· Electronics & components: Recover printed circuit boards, copper wiring, and rare earth magnets from discarded devices.
· Metals & industrial scrap: Reuse steel, copper, and aluminium from HVAC systems, appliances, and demolition waste.
· Construction & interiors: Repurpose wood, metal, and fixtures from deconstructed buildings. Salvage office furniture for remanufactured products.
· Plastics & composites: Reclaim plastics like ABS and polypropylene from appliances or use recycled PET from bottles and textiles.
Getting started: A guide for SMEs
1. Identify material needs
Review your materials list and product lines to find where reclaimed materials can replace virgin ones, especially in high-value components.
2. Find local partners

Collaborate with e-waste recyclers, demolition contractors, municipal waste facilities, scrap yards, and makerspaces to source materials.
3. Assess material quality
Quality is key. Work with suppliers to establish specifications and ensure reclaimed materials meet your standards through testing or additional processing.
4. Design for circularity
Make products easier to disassemble and reuse in the future by using modular components, standardised fasteners, and mono-material designs.
5. Start small

Test reclaimed materials in a single product line or limited run to assess performance and gather feedback before scaling up.
Final thoughts
Urban mining transforms waste into valuable resources. For SME manufacturers, it offers a way to reduce costs, increase supply chain resilience, and contribute to a circular economy. By rethinking material sourcing, SMEs can lead the way in creating sustainable, future-ready products.
Professor Chris Harrop OBE is Visiting Professor of Sustainable Business at the University of Huddersfield Business School and founding chairman of Made in Britain.
By Made in Britain 1 month ago | By Made in Britain