Rhodium: Emissions
The heaviest carbon footprint of the platinum metals
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 38k t CO2e per t range 14,507-18,612 in IPA's 2030 scenarios; 497 for recycled rhodium · cradle-to-gate, primary production, 2022 production year Global emissions per year 0.83 Mt CO2e per year 2025 · about 21.8 t mine supply x 38,027 t CO2e/t (indicative)Per t of primary refined rhodium; cradle-to-gate. Intensity: IPA, Life Cycle Assessment of PGMs, 2022 production year, executive summary (Apr 2025). Global total: Johnson Matthey 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 Bushveld mining on a grid that was 76% coal in 2023 | Rhodium's share of mine emissions depends on the allocation used across the PGM basket. | IPA, Life Cycle Assessment of PGMs, 2022 production year, executive summary (Apr 2025) |
| Refining / processing | large share: smelting and months-long solvent-extraction refining | – | furnace power and reagents | Primary energy demand is about 508,000 MJ per kg. | IPA, Life Cycle Assessment of PGMs, 2022 production year, executive summary (Apr 2025) |
| Movement | negligible (indicative calculation: about 6 t CO2e/t by air) | – | air freight | Well under 0.1%. | Indicative calculation using DEFRA freight factors |
| Usage | none directly; catalysts avoid NOx | – | three-way catalysts | Rhodium removes NOx, a health-damaging pollutant. | Not applicable |
| Recycling / end of life | 497 t CO2e/t, about 99% lower than primary | – | autocatalyst smelting and refining | Recycling supplied about 29% of 2025 demand. | IPA, Life Cycle Assessment of PGMs, 2022 production year, executive summary (Apr 2025); Johnson Matthey 2026 |
Other environmental impacts
Shares the water, SO2 and tailings impacts of Bushveld PGM mining; blue water use is about 306,000 kg per kg (IPA).
Levers to cut emissions
- Renewable power for South African mines and smelters; IPA's 2030 scenarios cut GWP 35-61%
- Higher autocatalyst collection rates, since recycled rhodium emits about 1.3% of primary
- Catalyst thrifting to cut grams per vehicle
- SO2 capture and efficiency at smelters
India
India mines no rhodium. Its BS-VI petrol and hybrid vehicles use rhodium in catalysts, so the footprint is embedded in imported catalysts and metal from South Africa.
Emission figures are indicative global averages from the life-cycle studies named; actual footprints vary widely by site, energy mix and method.