Panasonic Energy has announced a collaboration with Sumitomo Metal Mining to implement an innovative nickel recycling system. This process will allow used lithium-ion batteries to be reprocessed and their materials, such as nickel , to be reused in the manufacture of new batteries.
The initiative, which represents a key step toward a more sustainable economy, is designed to ensure that valuable resources, such as nickel, are not wasted at the end of a battery’s life.
The process for recycling nickel
The goal is to create a closed recycling cycle, in which batteries, once depleted, are not discarded, but rather their components are recovered and transformed back into raw materials to produce new batteries . This approach will contribute to waste reduction and decrease dependence on nickel mining, which has a high environmental cost.
Through this project, Sumitomo Metal Mining , with its extensive experience in non-ferrous metal recycling, will extract nickel from discarded batteries at Panasonic Energy’s plant in Japan. This nickel will be converted into high-quality nickel sulfate, an essential component in the manufacture of cathodes for lithium batteries.
Recycling these metals, in addition to reducing their environmental impact, significantly reduces the CO₂ emissions associated with conventional mining. In a growing global market for electric vehicles , this initiative is key to ensuring the sustainable supply of essential materials such as nickel, cobalt, and lithium.
Future plans
In addition to focusing on nickel recycling, Panasonic Energy plans to expand this recycling process to other essential metals such as lithium and cobalt, with a goal of achieving 20% recycled content in its automotive batteries by 2030 .
This approach is part of Panasonic’s broader commitment to halve its carbon footprint by 2031, a key goal within its sustainability strategy.
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Source: Panasonic Energy
Photo: shutterstock
