Making a material difference to the environment

AS THE environmental impact of today's "take-make-dispose" economy becomes increasingly evident, the call for businesses to develop innovative processes to recycle and reuse scarce resources is becoming louder.

One Singapore company leading this effort is BR Metals, a specialist in recycling precious metals such as platinum, palladium and rhodium; collectively known as platinum group metals (PGM). The firm is now expanding its capabilities beyond PGM, and developing gold and silver recovery capabilities for different industry sectors.

"Although we are still working on a more ecological sound recovery method for precious metals from solutions, non-toxic manufacturing scraps and precious metals jewellery, we are making headway with new fire assay capability and respectable recovery rates for an expanding range of waste streams and scraps," says Frank Chen, Founder and Managing Director of BR Metals.

"As with PGM recycling, we strive towards reducing the potentially destructive impact of mining activities by recovering gold and silver from recycled scrap sources, and bring a new lease of life to these finite resources that were otherwise discarded."

Creating a circular economy

Traditionally, the mining of precious metals operates in a linear economy, where the ore is mined, transformed into products and then disposed of as waste at the end of their lives.

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BR Metals aims to create a circular economy by recovering these metals from metal scraps and reintroducing them into the supply chain. The firm's forte is in the processing and recycling of discarded catalytic converters, an emission control device in gasoline- and diesel-powered vehicles. The company is able to recover an estimated 80,000 troy ounces (oz.t), or the equivalent of almost 2,500 kilograms, of PGM from these devices, and reintroduce them into the supply chain annually.

"Through our recovery and recycling services, we help to create a circular economy and fulfil the high demand for these finite precious resources in a sustainable way, while reducing the detrimental impact of mining on the environment and communities," says Mr Chen.

"The illegal mining of gold not only endangers lives, it also causes irreversible damage to the environment, which in turn affects the livelihood of the entire community. It's a vicious cycle, and one that we are keen to stop. BR Metals is committed to offering a viable alternative to precious metal mining and to build a company that operates sustainably and gives back to the environment and society," explains Mr Chen.

Expanding capabilities

BR Metals runs two bulk semi-automated sampling lines, laboratories in Singapore and Guangdong, as well as a representative office in Cambodia. The firm's new processing facility in Shaoguan can process 3,000 tons per year of spent auto catalysts, and meets the most stringent environmental regulations by the Chinese government.

Over the last 2 years, BR Metals has successfully applied for 5 patents and received from the CNIPA (National Intellectual Property Administration) of the People's Republic of China. These bulk sampling technology patents has not only markedly improved the efficiency, productivity and analysis outcome of Platinum Group Metal scraps, but also ensure a cleaner and healthier workplace for production staff.

With only 63 employees, BR Metals has made impressive strides in growing its business. The Group recorded an annual revenue of US$300 million for the last financial year, and boasts an annual growth rate over 160% since 2016. The firm was no.7 in this year's Singapore Fastest Growing Companies ranking for the fourth year running, and was also a recipient of the Brands for Good Distinction Award, which recognises businesses that are making a positive impact.

As BR Metals strives to act in an ethical, transparent and responsible way, it expects the same of its business partners. To this end, the company launched their Responsible Supply Chain Policy earlier this year. This document outlines the contractual requirements placed on all the firm's suppliers and their subcontractors for improving working conditions and environmental practices in their operations.

BR Metals is also among the first recycling companies in China to have achieved the stringent International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14100 certification, reflecting the high environmental standards practiced by the company. It later adopted the more stringent ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management Systems Standard in 2017, despite the higher operating costs stemming from compliance to these standards.

Looking ahead, BR Metals aims to be at the forefront of responsible consumption and production.

Says Mr Chen: "For businesses, the challenge of sustainable transformation is balancing the need to keep business in motion and profitable while making changes to achieve sustainability objectives. We are committed to building for a more sustainable future - together with our business partners, customers and suppliers."

A holistic approach to sustainability

BR Metals pursues a holistic approach to sustainability that goes beyond its core precious metals recycling business. The company is also involved in social causes related to education and helping underprivileged children.

"We firmly believe in the transformative power of education to improve lives and turn communities into sustainable, productive and profitable places with improved living standards. Hence, our social initiatives are focused on providing or sponsoring education opportunities to make a positive difference to our community," says Frank Chen, Founder and Managing Director of BR Metals.

BR Metals Scholarship for the Bachelor of Science with Honours in Chemical Engineering at the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT)

BR Metals chose to establish the scholarship with SIT because it believes that applied learning empowers students to better meet the challenges of the real world. The scholarship is open to Singaporean students from disadvantaged backgrounds with a strong record of academic and co-curricular achievements.

Building a school in Laos

BR Metals is also supporting the education of underprivileged children overseas by partnering with Singapore-based AZK Business Consultants and the Phongsavanh Foundation to build a school in rural Laos. The school is providing provide free quality primary education and meals to children from low-income families in one of the most impoverished districts in Laos.