**3.1 The importance of environmental regulations in the production of modern permanent magnets**

Typically, the environmental performance of high-performance permanent magnets is better than that of traditional magnets. This is due to the fact that highperformance permanent magnets are more efficient, which results in less energy consumption and lower greenhouse gas emissions during their use [67]. Additionally, high-performance magnets are often made using advanced manufacturing techniques that reduce waste and improve resource efficiency. However, it is important to note that high-performance magnets often contain rare earth elements, which can have a significant environmental impact during their mining and processing. Rare earth elements are often found in low concentrations, which means that a large amount of ore needs to be mined and processed to extract them. This can result in significant environmental damage, including soil erosion, water pollution, and habitat destruction. To mitigate these environmental impacts, efforts are being made to develop more sustainable methods for mining and processing rare earth elements. For example, some companies are exploring the use of more environmentally friendly solvents and reducing the amount of waste generated during processing [68]. Additionally, efforts are being made to recycle rare earth elements [69, 70] from end-of-life products, which can reduce the need for new mining and processing activities. Generally, while high-performance permanent magnets offer better environmental performance than traditional magnets during use, there is still work to be done to address the environmental impacts associated with their production.

#### **3.2 Some environmental regulations of permanent magnets**

Permanent magnets are present in many electronic devices, from the speakers in your cell phone to the motors in your car. The Materials Research Society notes, permanent magnets are fundamental to technologies as diverse as electric motors, generators, hard disk drives, medical devices, and magnetic resonance imaging. Permanent magnets are made from a variety of materials, including iron, nickel, cobalt, and rare earth metals. The manufacturing process of permanent magnets can
