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The Climate Change Impact of Recycled vs. Virgin Metals in Lithium-ion Batteries
By Irdanto Saputra Lase, Sophie Myers, Rohin Shah, Sahin Alacacayir
Recycling is often assumed to be the better choice for sustainability, but does the data always support this? Minviro’s latest white paper challenges industry assumptions by providing a detailed life cycle assessment (LCA) of recycled vs. virgin metals used in lithium-ion battery production. Find out when and where recycling reduces product emissions, and discover which parts of the ecosystem requires innovation in process efficiencies to drive us to a truly sustainable circular economy.
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The outline
Why Battery Recycling is Essential for a Low-Carbon Future
This white paper explores how recycled battery metals like lithium, cobalt, and nickel contribute to reducing carbon emissions and ensuring supply chain resilience. By leveraging life cycle assessment (LCA), we highlight key environmental benefits and regulatory implications for secondary materials.

This white paper focus on battery materials and processes like recycled vs virgin materials.
Recycling’s Carbon Footprint Varies Widely - When is it the better choice for sustainability?
Many assume that recycled metals are always better for the environment, but our findings reveal a more complex reality. The carbon footprint of recycled battery materials depends on various factors — including the type of metal and its source, and the efficiency of the recycling process itself. For example, how does recycled nickel sulfate compare to different virgin extraction methods? Download the white paper to uncover the full picture.
Energy & Chemical Use in Recycling - What is the true environmental costs of recycling?
While recycling is a way to reduce global resource consumption, the process itself requires energy and chemical inputs that can contribute to a significant environmental footprint. This white paper explores how factors like the electricity grid mix and the use of carbon-intensive chemicals impact the true sustainability of recycled battery metals. Could certain recycling processes actually outweigh their benefits? Find out inside.
Worst-Case Scenarios - Can recycling ever be worse than mining?
It’s widely believed that recycling always reduces environmental impact, but in certain cases, the opposite can be true. If recycling facilities rely on fossil fuels, use carbon-intensive chemical processes, or have low recovery rates, emissions can exceed those from virgin material extraction.
Battery Chemistry - Do some batteries recycle better than others?
Not all battery types offer the same environmental advantages when recycled. Factors like chemistry, material recovery rates, and processing requirements play a critical role in determining true sustainability. Which battery types are the easiest to recycle, and which pose unexpected challenges? The white paper will explore this further.
Regulations and Market Pressure - How will new battery regulations shape the industry?
The EU Battery Regulation is pushing for more transparency in carbon footprint reporting, with mandatory carbon thresholds set for 2028. But what happens when the push for recycling outpaces the environmental benefits? This white paper explores the evolving policy landscape and what it means for battery manufacturers and recyclers.
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