Mint Innovation, HP Achieve Closed-Loop Copper Breakthrough

Certification validates Mint's world-first metal recovery technology capable of returning traceable, certified copper from electronic waste for reuse

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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Mint Innovation, an e-waste technology company, has successfully produced the industry's first batch of certified closed loop recycled copper through a collaboration with HP Inc. The milestone demonstrates Mint's proprietary biosorption technology, which recovers high-purity copper from HP's end-of-life printed circuit boards (PCBs) for reuse in HP PC manufacturing.

Why it matters

This collaboration addresses a critical gap in the global electronics market: the lack of traceable, recycled-content verification. It provides a sustainable, domestic alternative to traditional smelting, which is extremely energy-intensive and burns off valuable components. Mint's process allows for batch-processing and traceability, enabling 'Recycled Metal as a Service' and supporting broader efforts to scale circular manufacturing.

The details

Mint Innovation's metal recovery process uses chemistry and patented biosorption technology to recover and refine metals locally. During the initial validation phase at Mint's Sydney facility, HP PCBs were processed to produce high-purity copper sheets, which received third-party certification from TÜV Rheinland. This batch-processing capability allows Mint to offer 'Recycled Metal as a Service', giving manufacturers the ability to retain ownership of their strategic resources.

  • In March 2026, Mint Innovation announced the successful production of the industry's first batch of certified closed loop recycled copper through a collaboration with HP Inc.
  • Mint Innovation is currently constructing its first U.S. commercial facility in Longview, Texas, scheduled to launch in 2027.

The players

Mint Innovation

An e-waste technology company pioneering the recovery of critical and precious metals from complex waste streams, including electronic waste and lithium-ion batteries.

HP Inc.

A technology company that collaborated with Mint Innovation to recover high-purity copper from HP's end-of-life printed circuit boards (PCBs) for reuse in HP PC manufacturing.

TÜV Rheinland

An independent certification body that confirmed Mint's recovered copper meets rigorous quality and chain-of-custody requirements across ISO 14021, EN 15343, and ISO 22095 standards.

Matt Bedingfield

The President of Mint Innovation.

Stacy Wolff

The Senior Vice President of Design & Sustainability at HP Inc.

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What they’re saying

“We are the only company in the world capable of tracing individual batches of metal from the waste pile back to the new product at commercial scale, a level of transparency that traditional smelting simply cannot provide.”

— Matt Bedingfield, President of Mint Innovation

“We're focused on finding practical ways to increase the use of recycled materials in our products, and that starts with the ability to verify where materials come from and how they perform.”

— Stacy Wolff, Senior Vice President of Design & Sustainability, HP Inc.

What’s next

Mint Innovation is accelerating its global expansion and is currently constructing its first U.S. commercial facility in Longview, Texas, scheduled to launch in 2027. The new site will serve as a hub for North American customers, strengthening domestic access to critical materials.

The takeaway

This collaboration between Mint Innovation and HP demonstrates a sustainable, traceable, and scalable approach to recovering and reusing critical metals from electronic waste, addressing the growing global e-waste crisis and supporting the transition to a circular economy.