Reducing Reliance on Mining: The Strategic Role of Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling

A recent study by researchers at the University of California, Davis, published in Nature Sustainability, underscores the growing urgency. Global demand for lithium is rising sharply, up 30% between 2022 and 2023 alone, and is forecast to surge over the next 25 years. To meet that demand, the study estimates as many as 85 new lithium mines may be required by 2050 under a high-demand scenario.

Yet, there is another path.

The same study reveals that robust global battery recycling could reduce that number to just 15 new mines. The difference is astounding, proving recycling isn’t just an option but a cornerstone of the solution.

A Circular Solution

Lithium is not scarce. What’s scarce is time. As Pablo Busch, lead author of the study, notes: “It’s not just about having enough lithium – it’s how fast you can extract it.” Building new mines takes time, often over a decade, and comes with high environmental and geopolitical costs.

By contrast, recycling provides a way to reintroduce valuable key metals back into the supply chain, domestically and sustainably. End-of-life batteries become a ready-made source of lithium and other critical materials, reducing dependency on mining while cushioning against global supply disruptions.

Policy, Industry and Innovation Aligned

This is not just a technological challenge; it’s a policy imperative. Incentivising battery recycling, setting vehicle efficiency standards, and investing in infrastructure to reduce range anxiety are all levers that can moderate lithium demand.

At Recyclus, we are already operational at an industrial scale, recycling lithium-ion batteries safely and efficiently. Building a robust, local recycling ecosystem today is essential to meet current volumes and prepare for the accelerating growth in battery waste.

The path to a cleaner future doesn’t just run through the mines, it runs through the materials we’ve already used. Recycling is not optional, it’s essential.