The Global Three Way Catalyst Recycling Market was valued at USD 8.1 Billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 13.2 Billion by 2030, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 7.8% during the forecast period (2024–2030). This robust growth is being fueled by stringent global emission regulations, the increasing volume of end-of-life vehicles, and the escalating value of Platinum Group Metals (PGMs) like platinum, palladium, and rhodium, making catalyst recycling an economically and environmentally critical industry.

As the automotive sector accelerates its transition toward electrification and circular economy models, the spotlight is on the specialized recyclers and metal companies extracting value from spent catalytic converters. In this blog, we profile the Top 10 Companies in the Three Way Catalyst Recycling Industry—pioneers who are transforming automotive waste into precious resources and driving sustainable practices worldwide.

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🔟 1. Umicore

Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium
Key Offering: End-to-end catalyst recycling, PGM refining, Circular Solutions

Umicore is a global leader in materials technology and recycling, operating one of the world’s most advanced precious metals refining facilities. Their closed-loop business model ensures that PGMs recovered from spent automotive catalysts are purified and returned to the market for new catalyst production, serving major automotive OEMs globally.

Sustainability Initiatives:

• Committed to carbon-neutral operations by 2035
• Proprietary smelting and hydrometallurgical processes for high PGM recovery rates (>95%)
• Strategic partnerships with automotive manufacturers for take-back programs

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Three Way Catalyst Recycling Market – View in Detailed Research Report

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9️⃣ 2. BASF Catalysts

Headquarters: Ludwigshafen, Germany
Key Offering: Recycling services for automotive and industrial catalysts, Refined PGMs

BASF’s catalyst division operates a dedicated precious and base metal services unit that offers comprehensive recycling solutions. The company utilizes state-of-the-art processes to recover precious metals from spent catalysts, which are then reused in the production of new emission control catalysts, creating a circular value chain.

Sustainability Initiatives:

• Global collection network for spent catalysts
• Investment in R&D for optimizing metal recovery yields
• Alignment with EU Green Deal objectives for material circularity

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8️⃣ 3. Johnson Matthey

Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
Key Offering: PGM recycling, Catalyst management services, Refining

Johnson Matthey is a sustainable technologies leader with a strong foothold in the catalyst recycling market. Their expertise in PGM chemistry allows for efficient recovery and refining from end-of-life autocatalysts, supplying high-purity metals back to the automotive and chemical sectors.

Sustainability Initiatives:

• Circular economy model integrated into core business strategy
• Advanced analytical capabilities for precise metal content assessment
• Focus on reducing the environmental footprint of PGM sourcing

Download FREE Sample Report:
Three Way Catalyst Recycling Market – View in Detailed Research Report

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7️⃣ 4. Heraeus Precious Metals

Headquarters: Hanau, Germany
Key Offering: PGM recycling from autocatalysts, Custom refining solutions

Heraeus is a globally operating technology group with a world-leading precious metals services business. They offer tailored recycling solutions for industrial partners, ensuring maximum recovery of valuable materials from complex waste streams like three-way catalysts, supported by a global logistics network.

Sustainability Initiatives:

• Global recycling centers in Europe, North America, and Asia
• Digital platforms for transparent material tracking
• Commitment to responsible sourcing and environmental standards

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6️⃣ 5. DOWA Holdings Co., Ltd.

Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
Key Offering: Metal recycling, Eco-System recycling services, PGM recovery

DOWA Eco-System is a key player in the Asian recycling market, specializing in the recovery of non-ferrous and precious metals from electronic and automotive waste. Their advanced smelting and refining technologies make them a critical partner for Japan’s automotive industry in managing end-of-life vehicle components.

Sustainability Initiatives:

• Integrated recycling facilities for efficient material processing
• Focus on creating a resource-circulating society
• R&D into novel recovery processes for complex materials

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5️⃣ 6. Sims Metal Management

Headquarters: New York, USA
Key Offering: Ferrous and non-ferrous metal recycling, Catalyst processing

As one of the world’s largest metals and electronics recyclers, Sims Metal has a significant operation in processing auto-shredder residue, which includes catalytic converters. They work with a network of partners to extract and refine PGMs, contributing to the North American circular economy.

Sustainability Initiatives:

• Broad North American collection infrastructure
• Partnerships with automotive dismantlers and scrap yards
• Commitment to the principles of a circular economy

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4️⃣ 7. European Metal Recycling (EMR)

Headquarters: Manchester, United Kingdom
Key Offering: End-of-life vehicle processing, Metal recycling, Catalyst recovery

EMR is a leading global recycler with extensive operations in processing end-of-life vehicles (ELVs). Their facilities are equipped to efficiently remove and sort catalytic converters from ELVs, feeding a valuable stream of PGMs back into the global supply chain.

Sustainability Initiatives:

• Advanced fragmentation technology for material separation
• Investment in automated sorting systems
• Focus on maximizing resource recovery from complex waste streams

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3️⃣ 8. Mitsubishi Materials Corporation

Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
Key Offering: PGM recycling, Smelting and refining, Sustainable materials

Mitsubishi Materials operates a sophisticated precious metals recycling business, recovering PGMs from spent automotive and industrial catalysts. Their integrated approach from collection to refining ensures a stable supply of secondary precious metals for the Japanese and international markets.

Sustainability Initiatives:

• Development of high-efficiency recycling technologies
• Contributing to Japan’s resource security strategy
• Initiatives to reduce the environmental impact of mining

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2️⃣ 9. Axens

Headquarters: Rueil-Malmaison, France
Key Offering: Catalyst recycling for refining and petrochemicals, Rejuvenation services

While primarily known for catalysts in the oil and gas sector, Axens also offers comprehensive catalyst management services, including recycling. Their expertise in handling precious metal catalysts makes them a relevant player in the broader catalyst recycling ecosystem, with technologies applicable to certain automotive catalyst streams.

Sustainability Initiatives:

• Extending catalyst lifecycle through rejuvenation services
• Reducing waste generation in the refining industry
• Commitment to sustainable resource management

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1️⃣ 10. Ecocat

Headquarters: Kongsberg, Norway
Key Offering: Specialist automotive catalyst recycling, PGM recovery

Ecocat is a specialized Nordic company focused exclusively on the recycling of automotive catalytic converters. They have developed efficient processes for decanning, sampling, and extracting PGMs, serving a growing market in Europe with a strong emphasis on environmental responsibility and high recovery rates.

Sustainability Initiatives:

• High-precision sampling for fair and transparent pricing
• Low-emission processing technologies
• Building a robust recycling network across the Nordic region

Get Full Report Here:
Three Way Catalyst Recycling Market – View in Detailed Research Report

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🌍 Outlook: The Future of Three Way Catalyst Recycling Is Strategic and Sustainable

The three way catalyst recycling market is undergoing a fundamental transformation. As primary PGM mining faces cost and environmental challenges, the recycling industry is becoming a strategic pillar for securing these critical materials, essential for both conventional and hydrogen-powered vehicles.

📈 Key Trends Shaping the Market:

• Increasing PGM prices driving higher recycling profitability and investment
• Tightening global regulations (Euro 7, China 6) extending catalyst life and eventual recycling volume
• Adoption of digital platforms for tracking, tracing, and optimizing recycling logistics
• Rising focus on ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) criteria influencing industry partnerships

Get Full Report Here:
Three Way Catalyst Recycling Market – View in Detailed Research Report

The companies listed above are not just recycling materials—they are building the resource foundation for a cleaner, more circular automotive industry.