# Platinum: Emissions

Why mined platinum is so carbon-heavy and recycled is not

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/platinum/emissions/

What this tab covers The greenhouse-gas footprint of the commodity at a global level, split by lifecycle phase: extraction (or farming), refining and processing, movement, usage, and recycling or end of life. Intensities are per unit of product; the global total combines intensity with world output. Also covers other environmental impacts and the main levers to cut emissions. Emission intensity 37k t CO2e per t range 14,383-18,333 in IPA's 2030 scenarios; 477 for recycled platinum · cradle-to-gate, primary production in South Africa, Russia, Zimbabwe and the US, 2022 production year Global emissions per year 6.30 Mt CO2e per year 2025 · 170 t mine output x 36,828 t CO2e/t (indicative)

Per t of primary refined platinum; cradle-to-gate. Intensity: IPA, Life Cycle Assessment of PGMs, 2022 production year, executive summary (Apr 2025). Global total: USGS MCS 2026; IPA, Life Cycle Assessment of PGMs, 2022 production year, executive summary (Apr 2025).

#### Footprint by lifecycle phase

| Phase | Intensity | Share | Main sources of emissions | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Extraction** | large share; IPA gives no stage split | – | deep-level mining at 1-2 km: hoisting, ventilation, refrigeration and compressed air on a coal-heavy grid; diesel | Ore grades are only a few grams of PGMs per tonne, so tonnes of rock per kg of metal are huge. South Africa's grid was 76% coal in 2023. | IPA, Life Cycle Assessment of PGMs, 2022 production year, executive summary (Apr 2025) |
| **Refining / processing** | large share: milling, flotation, electric-furnace smelting, converting, base-metal and precious-metal refining | – | furnace electricity, reagents, SO2 handling | Refining takes months and needs many chemical steps. Primary energy demand is about 495,000 MJ per kg. | IPA, Life Cycle Assessment of PGMs, 2022 production year, executive summary (Apr 2025) |
| **Movement** | negligible: about 6 t CO2e/t for air freight (indicative calculation) | – | air freight of refined metal; road transport of concentrate | Well under 0.1% of the total. | Indicative calculation using DEFRA freight factors |
| **Usage** | none directly; catalysts avoid pollutants | – | autocatalysts convert CO, hydrocarbons and NOx; fuel cells and electrolysers enable hydrogen | Platinum is an enabler: its emissions are embedded, while its uses cut air pollution. | Not applicable |
| **Recycling / end of life** | 477 t CO2e/t, about 99% lower than primary | – | smelting autocatalysts with collector metals, then refining | Industrial catalysts are recycled in closed loops; autocatalyst recovery depends on scrappage. EU end-of-life recycling input rate is 12%. | IPA, Life Cycle Assessment of PGMs, 2022 production year, executive summary (Apr 2025); EU CRM 2023 |

#### Other environmental impacts

Primary platinum uses about 297,000 kg of blue water per kg and has high acidification potential from smelter SO2 (IPA). Bushveld mining raises water stress, community relocation and chrome-tailings issues.

#### Levers to cut emissions

- Cleaner South African grid and renewable power purchase agreements; IPA's 2030 scenarios cut GWP 35-61%
- Higher recycling share, since recycled platinum emits about 477 t CO2e/t versus 36,828 primary
- Mechanised shallow mining such as the Platreef and Great Dyke instead of deep conventional shafts
- Smelter SO2 capture and energy efficiency in ventilation and cooling

#### India

India mines no platinum and took 11.0% of world imports by value in 2024. Its BS-VI vehicle standards raised PGM use in catalysts, so India's footprint is the embedded emissions of South African coal-powered mining.
 Emission figures are indicative global averages from the life-cycle studies named; actual footprints vary widely by site, energy mix and method.

## Other sections

- [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/platinum/index.md)
- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/platinum/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/platinum/correlation/index.md)
- [Extraction](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/platinum/extraction/index.md)
- [Production](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/platinum/production/index.md)
- [Stocks](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/platinum/stocks/index.md)
- [Cycles](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/platinum/cycles/index.md)
- [Trading](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/platinum/trading/index.md)
- [Movement](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/platinum/movement/index.md)
- [Criticality](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/platinum/criticality/index.md)
- [Characteristics](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/platinum/characteristics/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/platinum/links/index.md)