As the global energy transition accelerates, the role of battery recycling has shifted from a niche concern to a strategic imperative. In this article, Fatmagül Akçakoca, project engineer at Proses Makina, explores how recovery technologies are reshaping the circular battery economy.
From electric vehicles to smartphones, modern life demands more energy storage capacity than ever before. Today, that demand is largely met by lithium-ion, nickel-metal hydride, zinc and other advanced battery technologies. But behind every charging cycle, every new device, and every electric car lies an undeniable truth: the world’s natural resources are finite, and the resulting waste is mounting. The critical raw materials that make battery production possible – lithium, cobalt, nickel and manganese – are concentrated in only a handful of regions worldwide, and their extraction involves enormous environmental costs as well as geopolitical risks.
This is precisely where the concept of a circular economy emerges as a vital key to the future energy equation. Extending the lifecycle of batteries and recovering their valuable materials is no longer just a matter of waste management – it is a strategic necessity. Recycling not only reduces carbon emissions but also strengthens supply security and creates new opportunities for sustainable production. Across the globe, investments in recycling infrastructure are increasing, and the vision of giving batteries a ‘second life’ is becoming a defining element of the energy transition. The strategic role of battery recycling within the circular economy can no longer be overlooked.
Battery diversity and the dynamics of sustainability
The challenge does not stop there. In the near future, emerging chemistries such as sodium-ion, lithium-sulfur and solid-state batteries are expected to claim a significant share of the energy storage market. Sodium-ion technology, for example, holds promise as a cost-effective, abundant alternative to lithium, potentially alleviating some supply risks. Yet, these novel designs bring different electrochemical structures, which will in turn require new recycling processes and infrastructures.
The sustainability imperative lies in matching this growing diversity with appropriate recycling technologies. The goal is not simply to neutralise waste streams but to extract high- purity raw materials that can re- enter the production cycle– thereby reducing dependence on mining, conserving natural resources, lowering greenhouse gas emissions, and ensuring long-term supply stability. In fact, achieving global climate targets will depend on strengthening this recovery chain as much as on investments in renewable energy itself.
Proses Makina’s recycling approach
Headquartered in Turkiye, Proses Mak
Its battery recycling plants are built on an integrated, multi- stage process that combines mechanical and chemical techniques with an emphasis on safety, efficiency and environmental performance:
- Advanced mechanical pre- separation and purification: Spent batteries undergo initial dismantling and classification through specialised crushing systems developed under the Eurogia project framework. These systems are designed to operate under vacuum conditions, minimising explosion risks linked to gas release or thermal runaway. Inert gas atmospheres and real-time monitoring sensors ensure continuous safety while optimising material recovery rates and minimising losses.
- Thermal treatments: Residual organics and electrolyte compounds are removed using controlled, low-oxygen thermal processes. This step enriches the metallic content of cathode and anode materials while simultaneously reducing energy consumption compared to conventional methods.
- Hydrometallurgical leaching and solvent extraction: Lithium, cobalt, nickel and manganese are selectively dissolved into high-purity solutions and recovered in reusable form. Closed-loop water management and minimised chemical use reduce environmental impacts while ensuring consistent quality for reintroduced raw materials.
This integrated approach ensures not only high recovery rates but also enhanced energy efficiency, reduced carbon emissions, and elevated safety standards. Proses Makina’s dedicated R&D team continues to pioneer process optimisation strategies – ranging from water and energy savings to advanced automation and digital monitoring systems. The result is one of the most advanced practical applications of circular economy principles in the battery recycling sector.
A forward-looking vision for recycling
The future of battery recycling extends well beyond simply recovering raw materials. It is increasingly tied to broader goals of carbon-neutral manufacturing, efficient energy use, and economic resilience. With the rapid adoption of electric vehicles and the diversification of energy storage solutions, demand for recycling will not just grow – it will accelerate exponentially. This transformation positions recycling as both an environmental necessity and a high-value investment sector.
Reintroducing metals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel and manganese into the production cycle reduces mining costs, lowers import dependence, and directly cuts greenhouse gas emissions. Recycling also ensures that the environmental burden of mining – land degradation, water consumption and toxic byproducts – can be significantly reduced, aligning industry growth with climate targets.
To fully unlock this potential, collaboration across the value chain is essential. Governments must direct incentive schemes toward recycling investments; universities and industry should expand joint R&D programmes to accelerate new process development; and collection infrastructure must be reinforced to ensure a steady supply of feedstock.
For companies, the priorities will include process optimisation, automation, closed-loop water and energy systems, and integration of AI-driven monitoring. These measures not only guarantee more sustainable production but also deliver clear cost advantages and competitive strength. Ultimately, the circular battery economy is proving itself not just as a sustainability model but also as a profitable business strategy.
The global energy transition and the rise of electric mobility have pushed battery recycling from a peripheral environmental issue to a core strategic priority. As demand for raw materials intensifies and climate targets become more ambitious, industries must transform rapidly to keep pace. Maximising the economic and environmental value of recycling – through optimised processes, next-generation technologies, and stronger collection systems – will be critical. Recycling ensures not just the recovery of metals, but also the reduction of carbon footprints, the conservation of natural resources, and the strengthening of energy security worldwide.
Proses Makina is at the forefront of this transformation. From vacuum-based pre-separation systems to advanced hydrometallurgical processes, the company’s turnkey plant designs combine safety, efficiency and sustainability in one integrated package.
By coupling innovative R&D with practical, client-focused solutions, Proses Makina enables both high recovery rates and lower environmental impact. In doing so, it exemplifies how technology-driven companies can lead the charge toward a circular battery economy – where sustainability and profitability are not opposing forces, but two sides of the same future.
