Advancing UK Battery Circularity: Recyclus Joins Innovate UK-Funded ReCAM Consortium
At Recyclus Group, our mission has always been clear: to enable a truly circular economy for battery metals in the UK. Today, we are proud to be part of a major step forward in achieving that goal through our involvement in the ReCAM project, a consortium backed by Innovate UK.
As part of this initiative, Recyclus Group has secured approximately £400,000 in grant funding, contributing to a total consortium award of over £3million—supporting the development of next-generation battery recycling technologies in the UK.
Addressing a Growing UK Challenge
The UK is rapidly approaching a tipping point in lithium-ion battery waste. As electric vehicle adoption accelerates and early-generation EVs reach end-of-life, volumes of black mass—the hazardous, critical-material-rich powder derived from recycled batteries—are set to rise significantly.
Without a domestic solution, the UK could be exporting up to 94,000 tonnes of black mass annually by 2040, losing both economic value and control over critical materials such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, and manganese.
This challenge is not just environmental—it is strategic. Heavy reliance on overseas processing exposes the UK to supply chain risks and undermines ambitions for battery manufacturing sovereignty.
Introducing ReCAM: A New Approach
The ReCAM project aims to fundamentally change how black mass is processed in the UK. Instead of breaking materials down into individual metals through complex, multi-stage chemical processes, ReCAM introduces a short-loop, direct conversion method that transforms black mass into cathode active materials (CAM) for reuse in new batteries.
This approach:
- Simplifies the recycling process
- Reduces emissions and waste
- Enables a zero-waste, modular system deployable at recycling sites
- Keeps valuable materials within the UK economy
By shortening the supply chain and eliminating unnecessary steps, ReCAM has the potential to make battery recycling more efficient, scalable, and economically viable.
The Role of Recyclus
As an industrial-scale lithium-ion battery recycler, Recyclus plays a central role in the consortium. Our facility will support the development of a system capable of processing significant volumes of material per hour.
Beyond infrastructure, we bring hands-on expertise in black mass production and handling, helping to bridge the gap between recycling operations and advanced material recovery. This includes supporting research into more efficient separation techniques and enabling real-world validation of the technology.
Collaboration Driving Innovation
The ReCAM consortium brings together leading UK organisations across the battery value chain:
- Watercycle Technologies – leading the development of the direct conversion and lithium recovery process
- Polaron – applying AI to optimise material performance and accelerate commercial readiness
- UK Battery Industrialisation Centre – supporting scaled-up manufacturing of cells to prove the performance of recycled material
Together, we are demonstrating how collaboration can unlock innovation across recycling, materials science, and battery production.
Supporting UK Resilience and Electrification
This project is about more than technology—it is about building UK resilience. By developing a domestic route for converting battery waste into reusable materials, we can:
- Reduce reliance on imported critical minerals
- Cut emissions associated with exporting waste
- Strengthen the UK’s position in the global battery supply chain
- Support the transition to electrification across transport, energy storage, and industry
Executive Chairman and Co-Founder of Recyclus Group, Robin Brundle said:
“We are delighted with this award and to be working with such gifted partners. This is a British-centric programme built around UK resilience, and that is something we at Recyclus are extremely proud of.”
Looking Ahead
ReCAM represents a critical step toward a future where battery materials are not only recycled but reintegrated at high value within the UK.
At Recyclus, we are proud to be at the forefront of this transition—supporting innovation, enabling circularity, and helping to build a sustainable, electrified future.