Critical Raw Materials (CRMs) are quickly becoming a boardroom priority. At Cirmar, we see this shift happening across industries — from construction and energy to electronics and manufacturing. That is why we have added the (CRM) mark behind all Critical Raw Materials identified in C_passport®. This is not just a labeling choice. It is a strategic step to help companies better understand, manage, and future‑proof their material flows.
CRMs are materials that are economically essential but face high supply risks. In recent years, geopolitical tensions, increasing global competition, and structural dependencies on a limited number of producing countries have made these risks more visible than ever. At the same time, scarcity and price volatility are rising.
For companies, this means that materials once considered ‘just another input’ can suddenly become a bottleneck — impacting costs, continuity, and compliance. By clearly marking CRMs in C_passport®, we help organizations identify where these strategic risks are embedded in their products and value chains.
Here’s how we display CRM’s on C_passport®: by adding the mark in brackets after the material name.
Critical Raw Materials are not only a risk — they are also an enabler. Many of the sustainable transitions we urgently need depend on them.
The energy transition is a clear example: renewable energy systems, batteries, grids, and storage technologies rely heavily on CRMs. But the same applies to the housing transition. Modern, energy‑efficient buildings increasingly depend on heat pumps, insulation systems, smart controls, and low‑carbon technologies — all of which require Critical Raw Materials to function.
In other words: without CRMs, many sustainability ambitions remain theoretical. By making CRMs visible in C_passport®, we support more informed decision‑making about material choices, design strategies, and long‑term availability.
If CRMs are so critical, one question becomes unavoidable: do companies actually know which CRMs they put on the market, and where they end up?
For many organizations, the honest answer is still: not sufficiently.
This is where Digital Product Passports (DPPs) play a crucial role. C_passport® enables companies to:
By explicitly marking CRMs, we make this information actionable rather than abstract.
Marking CRMs is not only about risk management or regulation. It is also about opportunity.
When companies know which Critical Raw Materials are in their products, they can start designing systems to recover and reuse them. This reduces dependency on primary extraction, lowers exposure to volatile markets, and strengthens circular business models.
C_passport® is designed to support exactly this shift: from linear use to long‑term material stewardship.
Adding the (CRM) mark in C_passport® is a small visual change with a big purpose. It signals urgency, relevance, and responsibility. It helps companies, partners, and stakeholders immediately recognize which materials deserve special attention — today and in the future.
At Cirmar, we believe that transparency is the starting point of control. And control is the foundation of resilience, sustainability, and circularity.