Polish entrepreneur Paweł Jarski, the founder and CEO of Elemental Holding, has turned electronic waste into a lucrative $1.7 billion enterprise, earning the moniker „urban miner”. 

As the visionary behind Elemental Holding, Jarski has emerged as a prominent figure in the global recycling industry, specialising in the sustainable recovery of precious metals from electronic equipment. 

Founded in 2010, Elemental has rapidly become a leading player in its field, focusing on extracting platinum group metals from used automotive catalysts and other valuable metals such as silver, copper, and gold from electronic waste.

Jarski began his entrepreneurial journey by assembling computers and soon recognised the potential in deconstructing them for recycling. Inspired by his father-in-law’s scrap business, he conceived the idea of Elemental towards the end of the 1990s. 

Today, the company operates in 35 international markets, employing approximately 1,100 people and generating revenues of 7 billion Polish złoty ($1.7 billion), with aspirations for further growth.

Elemental is now embarking on a pioneering project in Poland — the construction of the first lithium-ion battery recycling plant in Eastern Europe, representing an investment of over 400 million złoty ($96 million). 

This facility, projected to create around 150 jobs, aligns with Jarski’s vision of substantial economic growth and demonstrates his commitment to Poland’s development.

Image: X @MyCompanyPolska

Author: Sébastien Meuwissen