Antimony is recognised as a critical raw material in major economies including the European Union, the United States, Japan and Australia. Criticality assessments vary across jurisdictions but generally consider factors such as:
Supply concentration and geopolitical risks;
Dependence on imports and potential supply disruptions
Limited technical and economic substitution options; and
the importance of the material for industrial value chain, economic resilience, energy transition technologies and national security applications.
The importance of antimony extends beyond its supply risk. In many applications, antimony performs a specific technical function that cannot be readily replicated without affecting performance, safety, durability or cost. Examples include flame-retardant systems, lead-based batteries, specialty glass, catalysts and certain defence-related applications.
As a result, sustainable access to antimony requires a balanced approach that considers supply security, health and environmental protection, technological performance and circularity objectives. i2a supports science-based regulatory decision-making that promotes both the safe use and the long-term availability of antimony for essential applications.
Circularity and Life Cycle management
Antimony contributes to a wide range of value chains and remains present in several important end-of-life material streams, notably:
lead-acid batteries and other lead-based products, where Antimony is used to improve mechanical strength and durability; and
polymer applications, where Antimony may be used as a catalyst (e.g. PET production) or as a synergist in flame-retardant systems.
Recycling of Antimony associated with lead-based products is well established through mature and efficient lead recycling systems. These closed-loop systems enable significant recovery of Antimony and contribute to resource conservation within the battery value chain.
For polymer applications, circularity pathways are more variable. In PET, residual antimony remains within established closed-loop recycling systems. In electrical and electronic equipment (EEE), antimony containing plastics, such as ABS or HIPS, can enter mechanical, chemical or metallurgical recycling processes, often in combination with the recovery of other valuable materials such as copper and precious metals.
From a life-cycle perspective, responsible management of antimony involves not only recycling but also efficient resource use, product durability, safe use, emissions control and end-of-life recovery. Maximising the value retained within the economy while minimising environmental and human-health impacts throughout the life cycle is a key objective of sustainable materials management.
Emerging technologies and collaborative initiatives continue to improve the recovery of antimony and associated critical raw materials from complex waste streams. i2a supports policies and innovation frameworks that facilitate safe circularity, resource efficiency and the recovery of critical raw materials, while maintaining high standards of environmental and human-health protection.