Rare earth recycling in the US gets a $500 million boost as Apple and MP Materials join forces to localise magnet production and strengthen American tech supply chains.
Apple has signed a $500 million agreement with MP Materials to secure rare earth magnets for its products and expand recycling capabilities within the United States (US). The deal includes purchasing neodymium magnets from MP’s Fort Worth, Texas facility and developing a new recycling line in Mountain Pass, California.
The Texas site will produce high-performance magnets tailored for Apple’s devices, such as iPhones and Macs. At the same time, the California facility will focus on recovering rare earth materials from used electronics and industrial scrap. The recycled materials will be processed and reused in future Apple products.
According to a report by Manufacturing Dive, Apple and MP Materials have spent the past five years developing advanced methods for recycling rare earth elements. This partnership now formalises their collaboration at scale, marking a push to secure Apple’s rare earth supply chain, said Apple CEO Tim Cook.
Apple said nearly all rare earth magnets used in its devices are already made from recycled content. The company aims to eventually make all its products using only recycled or renewable materials.
Furthermore, the recycling facility in California will sit alongside MP’s existing mining and processing operations. In addition to manufacturing and recycling, the companies will invest in workforce development and training to support the expanded operations, creating new skilled jobs.
This initiative forms part of Apple’s broader plan to invest over $500 billion in the US economy over four years.
