The rapid adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and portable electronic devices has significantly increased the demand for lithium-ion battery recycling companies as a sustainable solution for end-of-life battery management. While lithium-ion batteries are essential for modern technology, their disposal presents considerable environmental and economic challenges. Recycling these batteries mitigates ecological risks while recovering valuable materials such as nickel, cobalt, and lithium, reducing the need for new mining operations. Recognizing this necessity, several lithium-ion battery recycling companies are leading the way in developing innovative recycling solutions, promoting sustainability, and supporting the circular economy.
The lithium-ion battery recycling market is projected to expand from USD 16.2 billion in 2024 to USD 56.9 billion by 2032, reflecting a CAGR of 17.0% during the forecast period. This growth is primarily driven by the increasing demand for recycled materials, alongside the rising emphasis on sustainability and stricter environmental regulations. Lithium-ion batteries, with their high concentration of valuable metals, have become key candidates for recycling. By recovering these critical raw materials, battery recycling not only reduces the environmental impact of battery production but also reinforces sustainable manufacturing practices and reduces reliance on virgin resources.
The following companies are key players in the global lithium-ion battery recycling market. To strengthen their market position, these industry leaders have implemented strategic initiatives such as acquisitions, investments, expansions, and partnerships, driving growth and innovation in the sector.
- Umicore (Belgium)
Umicore is a global materials technology and recycling group that operates one of the world’s most sophisticated precious metal recycling facilities. The company offers recycling services for lithium-ion, lithium-polymer, and nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) rechargeable batteries, catering to various applications, including chemical, electric, electronic, automotive, and special glass industries. With operations in 30 countries and 14 research and development centers, Umicore emphasizes innovation in recycling technologies.
- Glencore (Switzerland)
Glencore is among the world’s largest recyclers and processors of nickel-bearing and cobalt-bearing materials, including used lithium-ion batteries. The company manages its battery recycling operations through its metals and minerals segment, boasting over 150 mining and metallurgical sites and offshore oil production assets. Glencore’s extensive network spans more than 90 offices in 50 countries, providing a robust infrastructure for global recycling initiatives.
- Cirba Solutions (United States)
Formerly known as Retriev Technologies, Cirba Solutions has emerged as a leader in battery recycling and management services. In October 2021, Retriev Technologies acquired Battery Solutions, a provider of sustainable end-of-life battery solutions, and later merged with Heritage Battery Recycling, becoming the largest lithium-ion battery recycler in North America. Cirba Solutions processes various battery types, including lead-acid, NiCad, NiMH, lithium-ion, primary lithium, and alkaline batteries, across six processing locations in North America.
- Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL) (China)
CATL is a prominent energy company serving sectors such as passenger vehicles, commercial applications, energy storage systems, and battery recycling. Through its subsidiary, Guangdong Brunp Recycling Technology, CATL recycles lithium-ion batteries, recovering nickel, cobalt, manganese, and lithium from spent digital and automotive power batteries. The company’s waste battery disposal capacity is approximately 120,000 tons per annum, with a recovery rate exceeding 99%. CATL’s recycling network extends across China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and the Americas.
- Li-Cycle (Canada)
Li-Cycle specializes in recovering critical materials from lithium-ion batteries, reintroducing them into the supply chain. The company’s patented Spoke & Hub Technologies™ enable up to a 95% recovery rate of valuable materials. Li-Cycle operates black mass production facilities in Arizona, Alabama, and Ontario, with a unique facility in Rochester, New York, designed to break down black mass into lithium and other metals. In March 2025, Glencore approached Li-Cycle for a potential acquisition, highlighting the company’s significance in the recycling industry.
- Redwood Materials (United States)
Founded in 2017 by JB Straubel, a co-founder of Tesla, Redwood Materials aims to create a circular supply chain for electric vehicles and clean energy products. The company recycles batteries, recovering up to 95% of key battery elements, including nickel, cobalt, lithium, and copper. Redwood then produces strategic battery materials, supplying battery manufacturing partners with anode copper foil and cathode active materials. The company has partnered with major automotive manufacturers, including BMW, Ford, Toyota, Volkswagen, Audi, and Panasonic. In February 2023, Redwood secured a $2 billion loan from the U.S. Department of Energy to expand its operations, underscoring its pivotal role in the domestic battery supply chain.
- American Battery Technology Company (ABTC) (United States)
ABTC champions sustainable and ethical sourcing of critical battery materials through lithium-ion battery recycling, battery metal extraction technologies, and primary resource development. The company’s initiatives aim to support the growing demand for batteries in electric vehicles, grid storage applications, and consumer electronics.
- RecycLiCo Battery Materials Inc. (Canada)
Formerly known as American Manganese Inc., RecycLiCo Battery Materials Inc. recycles up to 99% of cathode metals from battery waste and recycles them into high-purity, battery-ready materials. The company’s innovative approach contributes to the sustainability of the battery supply chain by reducing the need for new mining operations.
- Green Li-ion (Singapore)
Green Li-ion is a lithium-ion battery recycling technology company producing modular hardware solutions that convert spent batteries into cathode and anode materials ready for use in new batteries. The company’s technology aims to make battery recycling commercially viable, addressing both environmental and economic aspects of the recycling process.
- Ecobat (United States)
Ecobat Solutions processes end-of-life, damaged, and production scrap lithium-ion batteries into black mass and recyclable content streams. Black mass is the separated electrode active materials from a lithium-ion battery, containing nickel, cobalt, and lithium, which are essential for new battery production.
To know more Download PDF Brochure :
The surge in lithium-ion battery usage necessitates robust recycling infrastructures to ensure environmental sustainability and resource efficiency. Companies like Umicore, Glencore, Cirba Solutions, CATL, Li-Cycle, Redwood Materials, ABTC, RecycLiCo, Green Li-ion, and Ecobat are at the forefront of the lithium-ion battery recycling industry, developing advanced technologies to recover valuable materials such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel. These companies are investing in innovative recycling processes, including hydrometallurgical and pyrometallurgical methods, to maximize material recovery while minimizing environmental impact. With governments implementing stricter regulations on battery disposal and sustainability becoming a key focus across industries, these lithium-ion battery recycling companies are playing a crucial role in reducing reliance on virgin resources, lowering carbon footprints, and supporting the global shift toward a circular economy. As demand for electric vehicles and renewable energy storage continues to grow, the efforts of these industry leaders will be instrumental in shaping a more sustainable and resource-efficient future