Zethos: low-carbon critical minerals from waste

How Zethos is rewriting the way minerals are refined

Critical minerals such as zinc, copper, nickel and manganese are fundamental for modern economies. They are essential for renewable energy systems, electrification, data centres, electric vehicles, and construction. Global demand is expected to double over the next decade, yet traditional refining remains capital-intensive, emissions-heavy and slow to scale.

Zethos has developed a world-first refining platform that replaces high-temperature furnaces with advanced chemistry, extracting critical minerals from industrial waste streams while delivering:

• 50% lower operating costs
• 70% less energy use
• up to 95% lower emissions

The result is some of the world’s lowest-carbon zinc, produced from waste that would otherwise require costly handling and disposal.

From research to industrial reality

Zethos was founded in 2021 by Ring – then a University of Canterbury chemistry researcher – and Professor Aaron Marshall.

What began as laboratory research quickly demonstrated commercial potential, supported by Christchurch’s innovation ecosystem, including ChristchurchNZ, the University of Canterbury, KiwiNet, Regional Business Partner Network and early investors.

The company was also the recipient of an Ārohia Trailblazer Grant from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) Innovation Services (formerly Callaghan Innovation) in 2024, alongside student grants and participation in the R&D tax incentive scheme.

That foundation enabled rapid scale. In less than five years, Zethos has raised $16 million and progressed from lab trials to pilot operations, and now to its Bromley facility.

“Today it’s the world’s first facility producing low-carbon zinc from steel mill waste at scale,” says Ring.

It also represents something rare: New Zealand’s only domestic source of refined zinc, produced using a low-carbon process.

A cleantech growth story

Cleantech is one of Christchurch’s five key growth sectors central to the region’s long‑term prosperity. Zethos shows what this looks like in practice – turning world‑class science into real‑world solutions with global potential. The company has secured strong private investment, including from two Fortune 500 companies, built a highly skilled team, and is getting its technology ready for international markets.

“Zethos is a Christchurch company solving a global problem with brilliant science,” says ChristchurchNZ CE Ali Adams. “The city’s research capability, infrastructure and talent pipeline have all played a role in helping them move from idea to execution.”

With industrial waste streams representing an estimated USD $15 billion global annual opportunity, Zethos is targeting markets where cleaner refining is no longer optional, but essential.

Christchurch provides a strong base for that ambition, with deep engineering capability, leading research institutions and a growing concentration of companies tackling complex, real-world problems.

Scaling for global impact

As demand for low-carbon materials accelerates, Zethos shows how locally developed innovation can play a decisive role in the energy transition – turning waste into value and low-carbon refining into a competitive advantage.

Adams says Zethos is a case study in how the region’s economy is evolving.

“As the world looks for cleaner ways to secure critical materials, Zethos shows what is possible when innovation, infrastructure and intent come together.”

Key takeaways

• Zethos converts industrial waste into critical minerals using low-carbon technology.
• Its process cuts costs, energy use and emissions compared to traditional refining.
• The Christchurch facility is a world-first for low-carbon zinc production at scale.
• The company highlights New Zealand’s growing strength in cleantech innovation.