L-Acoustics invests in European magnet recycling pioneer MagREEsource

Professional audio giant L-Acoustics has taken a significant step toward environmental sustainability and supply chain resilience, announcing a strategic investment in French start-up MagREEsource, a specialist in recycled rare earth magnets.

The company has also secured exclusive rights to MagREEsource’s technology within the pro audio sector, positioning itself at the forefront of sustainable innovation in loudspeaker manufacturing. The collaboration is seen as a pivotal move in reducing the environmental footprint of high-performance sound systems while safeguarding the essential resources they rely on.

At the heart of the partnership is MagREEsource’s proprietary magnet recycling and remanufacturing technology, which enables 100 per cent recovery of neodymium magnets from sources including electric vehicles, wind turbines - and loudspeakers. These recovered materials are then transformed into new high-performance magnets, entirely from recycled content.

L-Acoustics says this represents a major innovation. “The strategic investment and partnership with MagREEsource represent a significant advancement in our sustainability journey,” said Hervé Guillaume, CEO at L-Acoustics Group. “By securing exclusive access to this revolutionary technology for the professional audio sector, we are not only reducing our environmental footprint but also strengthening our supply chain resilience.”

The move reinforces L-Acoustics’ reputation for responsible innovation in an industry that continues to face challenges around sourcing rare earth elements. Through MagREEsource’s model, the company can now look toward designing future loudspeakers using entirely recycled magnetic materials.

The ecological benefits of this technology appear substantial. According to MagREEsource, producing one kilogram of recycled magnet material emits just 6 kg of CO₂, compared to 67.6 kg for magnets made from virgin rare earth materials, a 91 per cent reduction. Water use is also drastically reduced by 86 per cent, saving more than 1,100 litres per kilogram.

MagREEsource currently operates a pilot facility in Noyarey, France, capable of processing 80 tonnes of magnets annually. Plans are underway to scale up to a full-capacity “MagFactory” by 2028, which will produce 1,000 tonnes per year. The project has been recognised by the European Commission as a European Strategic Project under the Critical Raw Materials Act.

For integrators and AV professionals, this investment signals a longer-term shift in the materials and practices behind the pro audio technologies they install. Not only does it enhance the sustainability credentials of future L-Acoustics systems, but it also promises a more secure, European-sourced supply of critical components.

As Erick Petit, Co-founder of MagREEsource, put it: “Together, with our circular ‘magnet-to-magnet’ model, we’re creating a sustainable and sovereign supply chain for rare earth magnets. This collaboration shows how established companies and disruptive start-ups can work together to solve critical resource and environmental challenges.”