Lithium-ion batteries contain nickel, cobalt, and lithium – valuable resources that play a major role in powering electric vehicles.
Mining has been the typical method for obtaining these metals, but this process carries a high environmental cost. Fortunately, there’s a more sustainable alternative.
In a collaborative effort, Panasonic Energy and Sumitomo Metal Mining, a specialist in non-ferrous metal recycling, are working on a closed-loop battery recycling program.
This initiative focuses on the recycling of nickel from lithium-ion battery cathodes.
The obtained nickel sulfate will then be used to create new cathode materials, which will be used in Panasonic Energy’s lithium-ion batteries to complete the cycle. This recycling process, which directly reuses battery materials, fosters a sustainable circular economy.
“This marks the first closed-loop recycling initiative—where end-of-life products are…
