Security priorities in mineral policies of Nordic countries in the context of circular transformation

The growing demand for minerals required for low-carbon development elevates concerns about material security. Some metals and metalloids are considered ‘critical’ in several countries based on economic importance and supply risks. These material security concerns drive policymakers to explore possibilities for circular economy solutions, among other strategies. For example, the European Commission introduced the European Critical Raw Materials Act in 2023, which contains several measures to ensure a secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials (CRMs), including recycling as the only circular alternative. The role of recycling in the supply security for CRMs has been addressed in the literature. In addition, several studies explored how governments alter their mineral strategies to stimulate the recycling of CRMs. At the same time, the circular economy concept suggests a much broader spectrum of solutions. Previous research identified the spectrum of circular responses to resource security and advised how specific solutions could get prioritised or marginalised through security discourses. When policy documents embrace security discourses, they legitimise specific practices, circular policy design, materials to circulate, and the actors engaged. Other perspectives, e.g., ecological or human security discourses, tend to get marginalised. On the empirical level, however, it remains unclear whether material security concerns have the potential to stimulate a broader application of circular solutions in mineral policies. This paper explores the role of circular strategies in addressing material security concerns in the Nordic countries, i.e., Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and Norway. The investigation covered three areas: (1) what security concerns shape the mineral policies in the Nordic countries, (2) how these concerns affect the choice of circular solutions, and (3) what is the difference in the role the Nordic countries assign to the circular economy solutions in solving their mineral resource security concerns. Previous studies indicated the so-called ‘transformative Nordic model for greening the economy’. Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and Norway have introduced circular strategies, prioritising different materials and suggesting various circular measures. The effects of resource security concerns on circular strategy have not been explored in any Nordic country. At the same time, this is an interesting case considering the "transformative model" these countries represent. This qualitative research is based on an explanatory case study that includes discourse analysis of policy documents and semi-structured interviews from four countries. The policy documents in focus are mineral, environmental, and circular economy policies, including strategies, primary legal basis, and specific regulations in every area. Exploring the connection between resource security and circular economy strategies can support a better understanding of how security priorities can affect circular economy policy design and, thus, circular transformation in general.