Introduction
Critical raw materials (CRMs) are vital to modern society because they are essential components in the production of a wide range of technologies and infrastructure. Platinum Group Metals (PGMs), particularly help reduce emissions, promote cleaner energy, and enable key technological advancements.
Due to their rarity and high demand, securing a stable supply of PGMs is fundamental for sustainable development. In fact, they are crucial for various high-tech and industrial applications, especially in managing polluting emissions, hydrogen production and electronics, but also in the petrochemical, pharmaceutical, aerospace and glass industries.
As these technologies become more integral to addressing global challenges like climate change and digitalization, the demand for these raw materials grows. Their scarcity, geopolitical concentration, and environmental impacts make securing a reliable and sustainable supply decisive for economic stability and technological advancement.
Contribution of Hydrogen Technology Systems to Community Well-Being:
 Hydrogen, particularly green hydrogen produced from renewable energy sources (e.g., wind, solar), is a clean fuel with zero carbon emissions. It is key to reducing greenhouse gases and combating climate change. The use of hydrogen in fuel cells for electricity generation, transportation (e.g., hydrogen-powered vehicles), and industrial applications can significantly lower our reliance on fossil fuels. Energy demanding compartments such as the steel industry production see in the coming of hydrogen fuelled smelters a valuable solution to their high carbon emissions and are already making important investments in this direction.
Role of Recycling in Hydrogen Technology Systems
 However, even the hydrogen economy is strictly dependent on finite resources such as the PGMs, especially Pt and Ir. The latter is paramount to the production of green hydrogen in stationary equipment such water electrolysers. Nonetheless, the mining output of about 11 tons per year of Ir jeopardises the implementation of this promising technology.
 This is why efficient and scaled-up recycling of CRMs in hydrogen technology systems is key to the energy transition itself.
 The successful salvaging of both PGMs and advanced materials such as ionomer from these devices, however, presents different challenges for the recycling industry: the lack of standardisation, missing EU legislation and technical issues are only few among these.