As urban centres worldwide grapple with increasing energy demands and mounting environmental concerns, the need for sustainable and efficient energy solutions has never been more pressing. One such innovative solution is the circular battery, a breakthrough that promises to revolutionise how cities manage energy storage and consumption. The circular battery addresses critical issues related to energy waste, resource scarcity, and environmental degradation, making it an essential technology for the future of urban living.
The technology encompasses different techniques for the design, manufacture, and end-of-life processing of batteries in a way that their materials can be efficiently recovered and reused. Circular battery solutions are particularly relevant in sectors such as electric vehicles (EVs), where they can significantly contribute to reducing the carbon footprint and raw material consumption associated with battery production. By extending the lifecycle of batteries through second-life applications and recycling, circular battery technology not only supports environmental sustainability but also offers economic benefits by reducing the costs associated with raw material extraction and battery production.
A circular battery is an energy storage system designed for a closed-loop lifecycle. Unlike traditional batteries, which often end up in landfills after their usable life, circular batteries are engineered for reuse, refurbishment, and recycling. This process begins with the careful design and selection of materials that are easy to disassemble and recover. The circular battery's architecture facilitates the extraction of valuable components, such as lithium and cobalt, which can be reintroduced into the manufacturing cycle. This not only reduces the need for virgin raw materials, avoiding exploitation in conflict areas and child labour, but also lowers the carbon footprint of battery manufacturing. Moreover, repurposing and remanufacturing, together with recycling strategies, decreases the risk of soil and water pollution caused by the hazardous components of batteries ending up in landfills.
In addition to their environmental benefits, circular batteries also offer economic advantages. By reducing the dependency on imported raw materials and fostering local recycling industries, cities can create new economic opportunities and jobs. This aligns with broader goals of achieving economic resilience and sustainability. Furthermore, the adoption of circular batteries can lead to reduced energy costs for consumers, as the efficiency gains from recycling and reusing materials translate into lower production expenses.
Switzerland · Consortium
A public-private partnership establishing the 'Battery Passport' to ensure social and environmental sustainability in the battery value chain.
Uses Spoke & Hub technologies to recover critical materials from lithium-ion batteries with high efficiency.
Creates a closed-loop supply chain for lithium-ion batteries by recycling end-of-life batteries into critical materials.
Uses 'Hydro-to-Cathode' technology to synthesize new cathode active materials directly from spent Li-ion batteries.
United Kingdom · Startup
Specializes in energy storage systems that utilize second-life electric vehicle batteries.
A battery manufacturer with a dedicated recycling program (Revolt) aiming for 50% recycled material in new cells by 2030.
Global materials technology group with extensive operations in battery recycling and refining.
Provides supply chain traceability and battery passports to ensure ethical sourcing and recycling verification.
United States · Company
The world's largest recycler of batteries (historically lead, now expanding aggressively into lithium-ion).
Belgium · Startup
A Belgian startup that repurposes used EV batteries into smart energy storage systems for industrial clients.
Paper
Advancing sustainable energy through battery repurposing and micro recyclingJournal of Energy Storage · Jan 1, 2026
Review article discussing the reuse of EV lithium-ion batteries for stationary energy storage and the promotion of decentralized micro-recycling to boost local resource recovery.
Paper
Developing a holistic circular business model framework for the EV battery closed-loop supply chain: A data-driven approachTechnovation · Apr 1, 2026
Identifies nine circular business models for EV batteries and proposes a lifecycle-wide framework integrating digital passports and closed-loop supply chains.
Paper
Recycled electrode-based lithium-ion capacitors: an efficient route for transforming LIB waste into high-performance energy storage devicesRSC Sustainability · Aug 22, 2025
Study exploring upcycling strategies to repurpose cathode and anode materials from spent lithium-ion batteries into high-performance capacitors, addressing waste levels predicted to reach 1.1 million tons by 2030.
Article
Achieving lightweight and sustainable EV batteriesCORDIS (European Commission) · Aug 27, 2025
The MARBEL project results highlight circular-by-design batteries produced from recycled materials to improve EV performance and boost the circular economy.
Article
One of the biggest battery recycling plants in the US is up and runningcanarymedia.com
Ascend Elements’ new recycling plant in Covington, Georgia is processing used lithium-ion batteries and manufacturing scrap into useful materials for the clean energy transition.
Article
Lithium-ion battery recyclingli-cycle.com
Safe and sustainable process for recovery of critical materials from all types of lithium-ion batteries.
Article
Sustainable recycling of lithium-ion batteriesredux-recycling.com
Lithium-ion batteries are the driving force behind powering smartphones, electric cars, e-bikes and many other devices. At a time when mobile communications, electric vehicles and DIY markets are growing, the use of lithium-ion batteries is also increasing rapidly. At the same time, the production of lithium-ion battery cells is increasing significantly.
Article
Primobiusprimobius.com
The global reliance on lithium-ion batteries (LiBs) has grown at an unprecedented pace and is rapidly increasing due to strong continued growth in the electric vehicle, energy storage and portable electronics markets. Commitment to the environment has also contributed to widespread adoption of rechargeable energy storage as a means to curb climate change. The waste created by end-of-life and scrap LiBs poses a growing environmental challenge – Primobius has the solution.
Article
European Battery Recycling: An Emerging Cross-Industry Convergenceadlittle.com
The rise of electric vehicles (EVs) and associated battery gigafactories is pushing forward the creation of a European closed-loop battery recycling value chain. Increased recycling demand, intensified EU regulations, and a strong desire to localize supply chains and safeguard critical raw materials is driving multiple opportunities. In this context, as we explore in this Viewpoint, new ecosystems are emerging, and players interested in scaling need to act quickly to take advantage of the current environment.
Article
BATTERY RECYCLING: THE OTHER BIG INDUSTRY ON EUROPEAN HORIZONcicenergigune.com
The growth of recycling plants in Europe is a necessary environmental response to the increasing demand for batteries for electric vehicles and the gigafactory industry that will develop in the coming years.
Article
RecycLiCorecyclico.com
Enabling On-Site Lithium-ion Battery Recycling Globally
Article
Battery recycling takes the driver’s seatmckinsey.com
Electric-vehicle demand is accelerating rapidly and so is the need for EV batteries. As these batteries reach end-of-life, significant growth opportunities in the recycling space are emerging.
Article
10 ways to help build a thriving battery recycling industry in Europeey.com
The net-zero imperative and electric vehicle (EV) adoption will soon drive recycling reinvention strategies to secure sustainable battery supply in Europe.
Article
Recycling solutions for battery manufacturersfortum.com
We provide a unique service offering for battery manufacturers across the battery production value chain. Our services include the sustainable recycling of battery production scrap as well as hazardous waste management of challenging waste streams.
