Five battery-recycling numbers that stand out

EU targets 90% recovery for cobalt, copper, and nickel by 2027, while Umicore reports over 95% cobalt and nickel recovery.

Mixed-stream lithium-ion recycling cuts environmental impacts 58%; nickel and cobalt recycling uses 50% to 75% less energy.

Asia leads lithium-ion battery recycling, with more than 1.2 million tons of capacity; China holds about 70%.

A 2025 study says battery recycling plus reuse could reduce cobalt demand by up to 96% in China, 2021-2060.