Newport & Cardiff Materials Society (NCMS)

Abstract
As the global transition to electric vehicles (EVs) and renewable energy storage gathers pace, the lithium-ion battery has emerged as the "engine" of the net-zero revolution. However, this shift creates a paradox: while we reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, we increase our dependence on a complex suite of Technology Critical Metals (TCMs)—including lithium, cobalt, and nickel—often sourced through ecologically and socially intensive mining.
In this talk, we will explore the roadmap for moving from a linear "take-make-dispose" model to a truly circular economy for batteries. We will examine the current state of the art in battery end-of-life management, contrasting traditional pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical "shredding" routes with emerging, high-value pathways like direct recycling and automated robotic disassembly.
A key focus will be the "Design for Recycle" philosophy. We will discuss why the decisions made by pack designers today dictate the recycling efficiency of tomorrow, and how standardisation—much like the success of the lead-acid battery—is vital for scaling the industry. Finally, looking beyond current chemistries, we will consider how the next generation of energy storage, such as sodium-ion and solid-state batteries, can have circularity "baked in" from the laboratory stage to but also addressing some of the thorny challenges in ensuring circularity with low-value chemistries in order to ensure a resilient and sustainable resource future.

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