European Battery Regulation and Its Effects
The increase in population and high consumption are causing a gradual decrease in natural raw material resources. Consequently, natural resources are becoming insufficient to meet the growing demand. Particularly, high-tech and energy materials are seen as strategic resources for countries. Therefore, the recovery of valuable metals from spent battery has become one of the most crucial topics today. As known, lithium-ion batteries contain valuable metals such as lithium, cobalt, graphite, copper, aluminum, nickel, manganese. These raw material are classified by the European Union as “Critical Raw Materials” and they have limited production from primary sources such as mines. Hence, taking steps towards the recycling and recovery of waste batteries that have reached the end of their life is of significant importance both economically and environmentally. Consequently, the European Union is continually implementing new regulations on battery recycling. The effects of the regulations are outlined in the visual below.
The 2023 European Battery Regulation, focuses on sustainability and competitiveness in battery production. Key aspects include end-of-life battery collection, a battery passport, carbon footprint limits, recycling efficiency, and recovery targets. Starting from 2025, a 65% recycling efficiency is mandated, reaching 70% by 2030. By 2027, recycling processes must achieve 50% material recovery for lithium and 90% for cobalt, nickel, and copper. From 2031, new batteries must contain minimum recycled content (16% cobalt, 6% lithium, 6% nickel), increasing to 26%, 15%, and 12% respectively by 2036. The regulation aims to ensure sustainability throughout the battery life cycle. The material recovery rates and minimum recycled content ratios that will become mandatory in Europe in the near future are provided below.
Due to the regulations imposed by the European Union (EU) on battery recycling, the use of recycled materials in the production of new batteries will become mandatory. Consequently, this will necessitate the compulsory implementation of battery recycling processes. The EU’s stringent measures highlight the growing significance of battery recycling, emphasizing the imperative need for sustainable practices in the production and disposal of batteries. As the EU pushes for the inclusion of recycled materials in batteries, the importance of recycling in the battery industry continues to escalate, underscoring the ongoing commitment to environmental responsibility and resource conservation.
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