SUNSHINE RecycleFlash Weekly: September 1-5, 2025

September 05, 2025

Gold Rises Toward Record High

Gold rose to around $3,550 per ounce on Friday, near record levels and on track for a weekly gain of over 3%, supported by expectations of lower US interest rates and safe-haven demand. A drop in job openings, higher-than-expected layoffs, and initial jobless claims reaching a two-month high have led markets to largely price in a September rate cut. Traders are now betting on up to three cuts this year, which would benefit gold, as lower interest rates reduce the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding assets. Investors are awaiting the US nonfarm payrolls report for a broader view of the labor market conditions. Meanwhile, geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty, and global trade risks are boosting demand for safe-haven assets, while President Trump’s actions regarding the Fed have raised concerns about its independence. (Source: Trading Economics)

Goldman Says Gold Near $5,000 Possible If Fed Standing Damaged

Gold could rally to almost $5,000 an ounce if the Federal Reserve’s independence were damaged and investors shifted just a small portion of holdings from Treasuries into bullion, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. said. “A scenario where Fed independence is damaged would likely lead to higher inflation, lower stock and long-dated bond prices, and an erosion of the dollar’s reserve-currency status,” analysts including Samantha Dart said in a note. “In contrast, gold is a store of value that doesn’t rely on institutional trust.” (Source: Bloomberg)

Silver Price Forecast: XAG/USD Attracts Some Buyers to Near $41.00 as US NFP Data Looms

The Silver price (XAG/USD) attracts some buyers near $40.85 during the Asian trading hours on Friday, bolstered by the weaker US Dollar (USD). The white metal receives support from the prospect of the US Federal Reserve (Fed) rate cut this year. Traders await the release of the highly-anticipated US August Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) report later on Friday for fresh impetus. Data released on Thursday showed that the US Initial Jobless Claims increased more than expected last week. Additionally, the ADP National Employment Report revealed that US private payrolls increased less than expected in August. These reports indicated softening labor market conditions, reinforcing the Fed rate reduction expectation. Additionally, geopolitical tensions might contribute to the white metal’s upside, as it is considered a safe-haven asset. (Source: FXStreet)

China Iron Ore Slips on Softer Post-Parade Recovery

Iron ore futures dropped below CNY 787 on Friday, retracing prior gains as the anticipated demand rebound in top consumer China after the military parade fell short of expectations. Average daily hot metal output, a key indicator of iron ore demand, fell 4.7% from the previous week to 2.29 million tons in the period to September 4, the lowest since February 28, according to industry data. Markets had been looking for a sharper recovery as steel mills restarted operations on Thursday. On the supply side, rising inventories continued to cap price momentum. Meanwhile, Goldman Sachs lifted its average iron ore price forecast for Q4 2025 but maintained its 2026-end price forecast of $80 a ton. (Source: Trading Economics)

Dow and Gruppo Fiori Develop Breakthrough Recycling Process for Automotive Polyurethane Waste

Dow in partnership with Gruppo Fiori announced the latest advancements in a jointly-developed, novel process that enables recovery of polyurethane waste from end-of-life vehicles without disassembly. This innovation combines Dow’s expertise in materials science and Gruppo Fiori’s established automotive recycling ecosystem to create a new pathway for end-of-life vehicle materials. Valued for comfort, safety and fuel-efficiency, polyurethane foam is an essential part of automotive interiors. A typical car contains about 28 kg of PU, 10-15 kg of which is in seats – an amount of material with potential for significant sustainability impact. Traditional recycling of vehicles, however, requires disassembly of automotive components, creating cost and complexity for recyclers. Dow and Gruppo Fiori’s innovation eliminates this step, producing a simplified recovery for PU waste stream with the purity needed to enable depolymerization (chemical recycling). (Source: Dow)

Metallium Awarded Contract from DOD for Recovery from LED Scrap

Metallium Ltd. announced that its wholly-owned US subsidiary, Flash Metals USA Inc., has been awarded a Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract by the U.S. Department of Defense through the Defense Logistics Agency. The award, valued at A$100,000, will apply Metallium’s proprietary Flash Joule Heating process to recover gallium from waste streams, including LED scrap and gallium-rich waste streams. These feedstocks also contain Germanium and other valuable metals, broadening the project’s strategic impact. The work is expected to be completed within six months. (Source: PR Newswire)

Ecobat Announces Sale of Arizona Anode Business to Inppamet

Ecobat announced the successful completion of the sale of its anode manufacturing business in Arizona to Inppamet Ltda. This transaction includes Ecobat’s state-of-the-art fabrication facility in Casa Grande, which has produced rolled lead anodes for the copper and zinc mining industries since the 1980s. (Source: Ecobat)

Unilever Partners with SCGC to Launch ASEAN’s First ISCC PLUS-Certified Food-Grade Recycled Packaging for “Knorr Professional”

Unilever Thailand, in collaboration with SCG Chemicals, has launched recycled packaging under the Knorr brand for “Knorr Professional” — the first time in ASEAN. The food-grade recycled packaging is developed using advanced recycling technology from SCGC GREEN POLYMER™. This process converts used plastics into circular naphtha feedstock, which is then used to produce new Certified Circular Polyolefin Resins. These resins have properties equivalent to virgin plastics and are certified under the ISCC PLUS standard across the entire supply chain, making SCGC the first in Thailand’s petrochemical industry to achieve this. This certification ensures the packaging can be used safely for food products, free from harmful chemical residues or contaminants that could be hazardous to health or taint the food. This launch marks the first time food packaging produced through an advanced recycling process has been introduced in ASEAN. Unilever has already launched Knorr Professional products featuring this sustainable packaging in Thailand and Vietnam. (Source: SCGC)

The Recycling Partnership Invests $4.25 Million in Houston Materials Recovery Facility

The Recycling Partnership announced a $4.25 million grant to FCC Environmental Services’ materials recovery facility (MRF) in Houston, Texas, to improve its ability to recycle film and flexible packaging (FFP). The Partnership’s grant, supported by PepsiCo, Kraft Heinz, and the Film and Flexibles Recycling Coalition, will enable a facility retrofit to recover incidental FFP, address cross-contamination of other recyclable commodities, create high-quality bales, and offer key data and learnings for building a roadmap to scaling FFP recycling. (Source: The Recycling Partnership)

Veolia Adds EverestLabs’ AI-Powered Recycling Robotics in First International Deployment

Veolia Australia and New Zealand has selected EverestLabs, a U.S.-based leader in AI and robotics for recycling, to digitize and automate sorting operations at one of its material recovery facilities (MRFs) in Perth—marking the first deployment of its kind in the region. This initiative is part of Veolia’s broader global commitment to modernizing recycling infrastructure and improving circular outcomes through innovation. The deployment of EverestLabs’ modular vision AI and robotic sorting solution enables Veolia ANZ to gain unprecedented real-time visibility into plant operations, address rising labor challenges, and increase material recovery rates. (Source: Veolia)

NatPower Launches £1 Billion Push to Build UK’s Biggest Battery Storage Hub

Global energy company Natpower has announced plans for a massive investment in battery storage, one that will eclipse a key Labour initiative. The company confirmed that it will inject one billion pounds into the development of one of the largest storage sites in the United Kingdom. The project will be built on Sembcorp Utilities’ Wilton International Site near Middlesbrough. According to Natpower UK, the site will not rely on government contracts but instead will be supported entirely by private funding. Once completed, it will deliver one of the highest-capacity battery energy storage facilities in the country, with both energy duration and storage capacity expected to reach double the levels seen at existing sites. Natpower has stated that this project will also help reduce the substantial costs incurred by national grid bottlenecks, which currently waste around £ 3.5 billion each year. The development is expected to generate approximately 200 construction jobs. Natpower has also pledged to work with local colleges and environmental organisations to deliver training opportunities as part of the build. (Source: Sustainable Times)

India Cabinet Approves Rs. 1,500 Crore Incentive Scheme to Promote Critical Mineral Recycling in the Country

The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, approved a Rs. 1,500 crore Incentive Scheme to develop recycling capacity in the country for the separation and production of critical minerals from secondary sources. This scheme is part of the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM), which is aimed at building the domestic capacity of and supply chain resilience in critical minerals. The critical mineral value chain comprising exploration, auction and mine operationalization, and acquisition of foreign assets, has a gestation period before they could supply critical minerals to Indian industry. A prudent way to ensure supply chain sustainability in the near term is through the recycling of secondary sources. The Scheme will have a tenure of six years from FY 2025-26 to FY 2030-31. Eligible feedstock is e-waste, Lithium Ion Battery (LIB) scrap, and scrap other than e-waste & LIB scrap e.g. catalytic convertors in end-of-life vehicles. Expected beneficiaries will be both large, established recyclers, as well as small, new recyclers (including start-ups). The Scheme will be applicable to investments in new units as well as expansion of capacity/modernization and diversification of existing units. The Scheme will provide incentive for the recycling value chain which is involved in the actual extraction of critical minerals, and not the value chain involved in only black mass production. (Source: PM India)

Kyrgyzstan Imposes Half-Year Ban on Exports of Ferrous Metal Scrap, Ingots for Remelting

Kyrgyzstan is introducing a temporary ban for a period of six months on the export of scrap, waste and ingots of ferrous metals for remelting, the Kyrgyz government’s press service said on Sept 4. “The Kyrgyz government has introduced a temporary ban on the export of scrap and waste from ferrous metals and ingots of ferrous metals for remelting (pig iron ingots) from the country,” the press service said. The Kyrgyz Economy and Commerce Ministry, the Foreign Affairs Ministry, the State Customs Service and the Border Service have been instructed to take the necessary measures in light of the government’s decision. The resolution comes into force 10 days after the date of its official publication. (Source: Interfax)

Trump Signs Order Reducing Tariffs on Japanese Autos

The United States has officially implemented a trade agreement reached with Japan on July 22, taking tariff rates on automobiles and other goods lower while outlining Japan’s commitments in the deal. In an executive order signed by U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday, auto tariffs on Japan are set at 15%. The order instructs U.S. authorities to modify rates accordingly within seven days of publication in the Federal Register. Trump signed the document on the day Ryosei Akazawa, Japan’s chief tariff negotiator, arrived in Washington for a 10th round of trade talks. (Source: The Japan Times)