We care about a sustainable future
At Umicore in Hoboken, we recycle 17 different metals, including gold, silver, platinum, rhodium and palladium. The demand for these precious metals has grown in recent years, due to the demands for these metals in modern technologies. Every year, we process hundreds of thousands of tonnes of material from which we extract (precious) metals for reuse.
These metals are used in devices that we use every day, including smartphones, computers, and electric vehicles. Fortunately, metals are endlessly reusable due to their properties and we can recycle them endlessly without losing their quality. We call this ‘urban mining’, a viable alternative to extracting metals from traditional mining. In the classic gold mines, an average of 5 grams of gold is extracted from a tonne of ore. Through our refining process, we extract no less than 300 grams of gold from a tonne of electronic scrap. Urban mining is more sustainable with lower environmental impact.
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Our history
The history and growth of our site is strongly intertwined with the story of Hoboken.
In 1887, the company then known as Degussa set up a de-silvering factory in Hoboken , known as De Zilver to the locals.
After a number of takeovers and mergers, the Metallurgie Hoboken – Overpelt was created, which eventually merged into Union Minière. It mainly processed primary raw materials. The installations were outdated and the activity unfortunately left a mark on the environment. In the 1990s, Union Minière therefore made an important strategic decision to focus on the processing of precious metal-containing industrial byproducts and recycling materials. Heavy investments have been and are continuously being made every year. We are developing sustainable, ecologically responsible and efficient processes. We are dedicated to reducing emissions, energy consumption, noise impact and the overall impact on the environment and surrounding neighborhood.
Today, Umicore Group is the world leader in materials technology and recycling. The precious metals refining site in Hoboken is one of a kind and the largest in the world.
More about our activities in Hoboken
Our mission
Umicore is a leading circular materials technology company with extensive expertise in materials science, chemistry and metallurgy. Our ambition is to develop, produce and recycle materials in a way that meets our mission to create materials for a better life.
We are a transformation partner for our customers, accompanying them on their journey towards sustainability and circularity.