The scrap metal recycling industry in Benelux plays a crucial role in resource recovery and sustainability. It involves various players, from small local scrap yards to large multinational corporations that specialize in processing and trading metals. These companies offer services like collection, sorting, and refining metals to be reused in manufacturing. As environmental regulations tighten and more emphasis is placed on circular economy principles, the sector is evolving. Innovative technologies are emerging to improve efficiencies, and the demand for recycled metals is on the rise, aligning with global sustainability trends.


The investors listed here include a mix of corporate entities, private equity firms, and venture capitalists primarily located in Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. They vary in size, from boutique firms with a handful of employees to larger organizations with thousands on their payroll. Founded between 1911 and 2021, these investors made a total of 94 investments in 2024, indicating a strong appetite for growth in the recycling field.


Top 11 Scrap Metal Recycling Investors in Benelux


1. European Innovation Council (EIC)


The European Innovation Council (EIC) is a public entity based in Brussels, Belgium, founded in 1958, that supports innovation and entrepreneurship across Europe. It offers various funding programs, including the EIC Accelerator and EIC Pathfinder, aimed at helping startups and SMEs develop and scale their technologies. The EIC provides business acceleration services, networking opportunities, and prizes to foster innovation in multiple sectors. Notably, the EIC has been involved in several transactions relevant to the recycling industry, such as supporting ROSI, a French startup that raised 7.4 million euros to finance its first industrial site for recycling photovoltaic panels. Additionally, the EIC has provided grants to companies like Gr3n Recycling and DePoly, which focus on innovative recycling solutions. These investments highlight the EIC's commitment to promoting sustainable practices and technologies, making it a relevant player in the recycling sector.


2. ArcelorMittal Luxembourg


ArcelorMittal Luxembourg is a corporate investor and a leading global steel manufacturer, founded in 1911. The company produces a wide range of steel products for construction and infrastructure projects, emphasizing sustainability and low emissions. In recent years, ArcelorMittal has made significant strides in the scrap metal recycling sector, acquiring several companies to bolster its supply of recycled materials. Notable transactions include the acquisition of Legault Métal, a metal recycling company in Canada, and Zaklad Przerobu Zlomu (Zlomex), a Polish steel scrap recycling business, both aimed at enhancing their recycling capabilities. Additionally, the acquisition of Bakermet, a leading scrap metal recycler in Eastern Ontario, further underscores their commitment to integrating recycled materials into their production processes. These strategic moves reflect ArcelorMittal's dedication to responsible steel production and innovation in the recycling industry.


3. Mutares Benelux

  • Website: mutares.com
  • Type: Private Equity
  • Headquarters: Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands
  • Founded year: 2021
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • Number of deals in 2024: 16
  • LinkedIn: mutares-benelux

Mutares Benelux, a private equity firm based in Amsterdam, specializes in acquiring and managing companies in transition across various sectors, including automotive, technology, and retail. Founded in 2021, the firm has quickly established itself with 16 investments in 2024 alone. Notably, Mutares has made significant strides in the metal sector, acquiring Special Melted Products (SMP), which focuses on the processing of metals and generated an annual turnover of approximately £70 million. This acquisition, along with their other transactions such as Buderus Edelstahl, highlights Mutares' commitment to enhancing profitability and growth in industries related to metal processing and recycling. Their strategic investments and turnaround management approach position them as a relevant player in the scrap metal recycling landscape.


4. Brightlands Venture Partners


Brightlands Venture Partners is a venture capital firm based in Geleen, Limburg, Netherlands, founded in 2004. The firm specializes in investing in innovative startups that address complex societal challenges, particularly in the health and sustainability sectors. In recent years, they have made several notable investments that align with sustainability and recycling. For instance, they led a €1 million Seed investment in ReSolved Technologies, which is developing sustainable recycling solutions, indicating a direct interest in the recycling sector. They also participated in funding rounds for companies like Fuenix, which aims to contribute to a circular economy, and Black Bear Carbon, which focuses on sustainable carbon recovery processes. These transactions highlight Brightlands' commitment to supporting innovative solutions that could intersect with scrap metal recycling, making them a relevant player in this space.


5. Astorg

  • Website: astorg.com
  • Type: Private Equity
  • Headquarters: Luxembourg
  • Founded year: 1998
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • Number of deals in 2024: 8
  • LinkedIn: astorg

Astorg is a private equity firm based in Luxembourg, founded in 1998, specializing in investments in global B2B companies. With €22 billion in assets under management, Astorg provides capital, strategic guidance, and governance to management teams across various sectors, including healthcare, technology, and business services. Notably, Astorg has made significant investments in the metals sector, acquiring companies such as Metalor Technologies International SA, which specializes in precious metals and alloys, and Lebronze alloys, which is involved in the production of copper and other metal alloys. These acquisitions highlight Astorg's commitment to creating long-term value in industries that intersect with scrap metal recycling, making them a relevant player in this space.


6. Umicore

  • Website: umicore.com
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: Brussels, Brussels, Belgium
  • Founded year: 1805
  • Headcount: 10001+
  • LinkedIn: umicore

Umicore is a Brussels-based materials technology company founded in 1805, specializing in the development, production, and recycling of advanced materials. The company serves various industries, including automotive and electronics, and is committed to addressing environmental challenges through sustainable practices. Umicore's operations encompass refining precious metals and manufacturing specialized products, contributing to a circular economy. Notably, Umicore has made strategic acquisitions to enhance its capabilities, such as the acquisition of Eurotungstene from the Eramet Group, which is relevant as it involves materials that can be recycled. Additionally, their acquisition of Palm Commodities International, a manufacturer of plating materials, further indicates their involvement in sectors that may intersect with recycling practices. These transactions highlight Umicore's commitment to expanding its footprint in materials technology and recycling, reinforcing its role in the scrap metal recycling industry.


7. H2 Equity Partners

  • Website: h2ep.com
  • Type: Private Equity
  • Headquarters: Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands
  • Founded year: 1991
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • LinkedIn: h2-equity-partners

H2 Equity Partners is a private equity investment firm based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, founded in 1991. The firm specializes in private equity investments in mid-sized companies across various sectors, providing hands-on support and consulting services to help management teams achieve growth and operational improvements. Notably, H2 Equity Partners acquired Ballast Phoenix Ltd, a UK leader in recycling incinerator bottom ash, for £30 million in 2014. This acquisition highlights their involvement in the recycling industry, which is relevant to scrap metal recycling. Additionally, they have made other acquisitions, such as Eurocell and Eska, although these transactions are not directly related to scrap metal recycling. Overall, H2 Equity Partners demonstrates a capacity for investing in the recycling sector, making them a potential candidate for inclusion in the scrap metal recycling investor category.


8. Traxys Group

  • Website: traxys.com
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: Strassen, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
  • Founded year: 2003
  • Headcount: 201-500
  • Number of deals in 2024: 1
  • LinkedIn: traxys

Traxys Group is a corporate investor based in Strassen, Luxembourg, specializing in the trading of metals and minerals essential for various industries. Founded in 2003, the company provides comprehensive logistics and financial services to businesses in the mining and energy sectors, helping them navigate market risks and optimize their supply chains. In recent transactions, Traxys has invested in Princeton NuEnergy, a company focused on recycling technologies, participating in their Series A funding rounds. This involvement highlights Traxys's commitment to supporting innovative recycling solutions, particularly in the context of metals, which aligns with the scrap metal recycling industry.


9. Market One Capital

  • Website: moc.vc
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Luxembourg
  • Founded year: 2017
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 7
  • LinkedIn: m1c

Market One Capital is a venture capital firm based in Luxembourg, founded in 2017. The firm specializes in investing in innovative startups across various sectors, including FinTech, HealthTech, and AgriTech. In 2023, Market One Capital participated in a Seed round for METYCLE, a German metal trading platform that raised approximately €4.7M. This platform aims to enter the $600 billion global market for secondary post-consumer metals, utilizing the funds to enhance technology and AI-based quality control measures critical to the secondary metals industry. Additionally, they were involved in earlier funding rounds for METYCLE, including a Pre-Seed round in March 2023 and a Series A round in February 2025, further solidifying their commitment to the scrap metal recycling sector.


10. Quilvest Capital Partners


Quilvest Capital Partners is an investment management firm based in Luxembourg, specializing in private equity, real estate, and private credit. Founded in 1917, the firm manages over $7 billion in assets and serves a diverse clientele, including institutions and family offices. One of their notable transactions includes an investment in Paprec Group, a leading player in the recycling industry, which raised an undisclosed amount in a private equity round in November 2008. This involvement highlights Quilvest's engagement in sectors related to recycling, including scrap metal, showcasing their capability to invest in industries that align with sustainability and resource recovery.


11. DOB Equity

  • Website: dobequity.nl
  • Type: Private Equity
  • Headquarters: Veessen, Gelderland, Netherlands
  • Founded year: 1997
  • Headcount: 1-10
  • Number of deals in 2024: 1
  • LinkedIn: dob-foundation

DOB Equity is an impact investment fund based in Veessen, Gelderland, Netherlands, founded in 1997. The fund focuses on supporting innovative and scalable companies in Eastern Africa, aiming to create social impact while ensuring long-term profitability for its portfolio companies. Recently, DOB Equity has been involved in significant transactions in the recycling sector, particularly with Mr. Green Africa, a pioneer in plastics recycling in Kenya. They participated in multiple funding rounds for Mr. Green Africa, including a Series B investment announced on January 13, 2022, and a Series A investment on August 20, 2019. These investments are aimed at scaling the business model and improving the supply chain for recyclables, highlighting DOB Equity's commitment to addressing waste management challenges in Africa. Their focus on enhancing processing capacity and producing higher value recycled products aligns with the objectives of the scrap metal recycling industry.



Scrap Metal Recycling Insights: Key Investors in Benelux


InvestorHeadquarterSizeFoundedDeals 2024
European Innovation Council (EIC)Brussels, Brussels, Belgium201-500195857
ArcelorMittal LuxembourgLuxembourg1001-500019111
Mutares BeneluxAmsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands51-200202116
Brightlands Venture PartnersGeleen, Limburg, Netherlands11-5020044
AstorgLuxembourg51-20019988
UmicoreBrussels, Brussels, Belgium10001+18050
H2 Equity PartnersAmsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands11-5019910
Traxys GroupStrassen, Luxembourg, Luxembourg201-50020031
Market One CapitalLuxembourg11-5020177
Quilvest Capital PartnersLuxembourg51-20019172
DOB EquityVeessen, Gelderland, Netherlands1-1019971


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