April 10 2025 - The Royal Mint has taken a further step in advancing its ambition of becoming a leader in sustainable precious metals recovery with an equity investment in Canadian clean-tech company Excir Works Corp. (“Excir”), its partner in Precious Metals Recovery.

In 2024, The Royal Mint debuted a multi-million-pound state-of-the-art facility at its manufacturing site in Llantrisant, south Wales, using Excir’s world-first technology to extract gold from electronic waste (e-waste).

It is estimated that approximately 7% of the world’s gold is trapped in circuit boards from end-of-life electronics such as TVs, laptops and mobile phones. By scaling Excir’s innovative technology, The Royal Mint is committed to securing a more sustainable and circular source of precious metals, whilst addressing the growing environmental challenge of e-waste.

The strategic investment, which results in an ~8% equity stake in Excir, strengthens the partnership and aligns the companies’ interests in expanding the Precious Metals Recovery business. As part of the investment, The Royal Mint has also gained a seat on Excir's Board of Directors, providing key governance and contributing to the future direction of the business.

Sean Millard, Chief Growth Officer for The Royal Mint said: “We have worked closely with Excir for four years, united by shared values and a common ambition to create a more sustainable future for both the planet and our businesses.

“This investment strengthens our pioneering partnership, helping to advance our joint mission to preserve finite resources, and further develop essential manufacturing and craftsmanship skills to ensure the long-term resilience of The Royal Mint.”

Aaron Logan, Chief Executive Officer at Excir said: “We are proud that The Royal Mint, an institution with 11 centuries of history, has made an equity investment in Excir, deepening our strategic partnership. Together, we are transforming waste into valuable resources, reducing the need for mining, and driving a more sustainable future. 

“This investment highlights the importance of the research and development being done at Excir. We are excited and honoured to be part of The Royal Mint’s next chapter of innovation and sustainability.”

The Precious Metals Recovery plant has the capacity to process up to 4,000 tonnes of printed circuit boards (PCBs) from e-waste each year. Recovered gold is currently being used in luxury jewellery collection, 886 by The Royal Mint.

For more information, visit Precious Metals Recovery | The Royal Mint.