Exploring the Urban Mine

Transforming e‑waste into renewed natural resources, such as metals, drives a circular economy where a sustainable lifecycle for once lost materials is created, making it possible to repeatedly repurpose and revalue materials with relatively low environmental impact. This allows an organization like the Mint to actively contribute to Canada’s transition to a sustainable future grounded in responsible economic development. Earlier this year, the Mint and Quebec‑based Enim Technologies (enim) announced that they are exploring mutually beneficial areas of collaboration. enim has developed a patented hydrometallurgical technology that allows it recover more than 98% of a circuit board’s materials while consuming significantly less energy than heat‑based processes that only recover metals.

Their focus on extracting metals, minerals and chemical elements recovered from discarded electronic devices gives new life and value to materials such as gold, silver, copper, and even gypsum, bromine and organic acids. While expected output represents a small percentage of the Mint’s annual refining volumes, this new potential process could support further participation in the circular economy – while reducing the Mint’s environmental footprint and enhancing its responsible metal sourcing.

“For more than a century, the Mint has operated one of the world’s leading refineries, delivering innovative products of the highest quality and unparalleled purity,” said Marie Lemay, President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint. “We look forward to exploring the possibility of tapping into a new source of metals responsibly recovered on Canadian soil.”

This collaboration complements with the Mint’s wider commitments to sustainability in coin manufacturing, which now includes the integration of recycled steel, reducing dependence on new steel derived from mined iron ore. Following successful tests in 2024, the use of recycled steel will be expanded in both Canadian and foreign circulation coin production.

The Mint has also developed a non-cyanide bronze electroplating process to produce yellow‑coloured circulation blanks and coins. The method replaces cyanide, a volatile chemical, with non-toxic chemicals ensuring the process is safer for both people and the planet. This new technology won Best New Coin Product, Process or Manufacturing Innovation Award at the International Association of Currency Affairs 2024 Excellence in Currency Coin Awards.

From employee-led initiatives to organization‑wide goals and projects reducing our environmental impact is always top of mind.