European Union recycling could halve lithium and nickel demand

A new study by the Öko-Institut suggests that the European Union could significantly reduce its reliance on new mineral extraction for battery production through enhanced recycling. By 2040, recycling could decrease the demand for lithium and nickel by half, while potentially reducing cobalt requirements by up to 70%.

To avoid new geopolitical dependencies on critical metals like nickel, lithium, and cobalt, 40 organizations—including the Portuguese NGO Sciaena—are calling on the EU to prioritize demand reduction in its resource security strategy. The study identifies several policy intervention areas beyond recycling, such as incentivizing smaller, more affordable electric vehicles and emphasizing energy efficiency in automotive labeling standards.

Additional recommendations include utilizing the 2028–2034 EU budget to bolster accessible public transport and sustainable urban mobility. The organizations argue that promoting measures like teleworking could also reduce unnecessary travel, further lowering the overall demand for raw materials required for transport electrification.