The Royal Mint has inaugurated a state-of-the-art factory in south Wales dedicated to extracting gold from printed circuit boards (PCBs) found in common electronic waste like TVs, laptops and mobile phones. This 3,700 square meter facility utilizes a groundbreaking patented chemistry developed by Canadian clean tech company Excir, which operates at room temperature, making it a more energy-efficient and cost-effective method for gold recovery.
This new factory is the first to scale Excir’s technology from laboratory to industrial levels, with a processing capacity of up to 4,000 tonnes of PCBs annually. The recovered gold is already being incorporated into the Royal Mint’s luxury jewellery collection, 886 by The Royal Mint.
Anne Jessopp, Chief Executive at The Royal Mint, highlighted that this factory represents a significant step in the organization’s evolution, emphasizing its commitment to sustainable practices and job creation. The Royal Mint is also working with industry bodies to establish the first ISO standard for recycled gold.
Sean Millard, Chief Growth Officer, noted that the new facility supports The Royal Mint’s dedication to sustainability, reducing reliance on traditional mining, and advancing its decarbonization efforts. The Royal Mint’s investment in this innovative technology underscores its commitment to a more sustainable and circular economy.
