Watercycle Technologies has teamed up with German-based Primobius in a partnership aimed at making battery recycling more efficient and sustainable. The collaboration will focus on refining recycling processes and recovering valuable minerals, reducing the need for newly mined materials and helping to cut the environmental impact of battery production.

Watercycle, a Manchester-based climate-tech company, specialises in critical minerals recovery, while Primobius has developed a two-step process for recycling lithium-ion batteries. By working together, the two firms aim to optimise their technologies and explore potential commercial projects that support a circular economy.

Primobius’ approach extracts high-value components from end-of-life and scrap lithium-ion batteries with lower carbon emissions, complementing Watercycle’s high-yield, low-cost mineral recovery systems. The companies believe this partnership could accelerate the development of better recycling solutions and drive progress in reducing reliance on raw materials.

Dr Michel Siemon, CEO of Primobius, said the partnership would allow both firms to build on their strengths and make real progress in battery recycling. “As a lifecycle partner, we focus on delivering solutions that maximise resource recovery and reduce environmental impact. Together, we are expanding our ecosystem and enhancing our ability to help clients meet their sustainability goals and drive positive change in the industry,” he said.

Dr Seb Leaper, CEO and co-founder of Watercycle, added that the collaboration reflected a shared vision for innovation and sustainability. “At Watercycle, we are pioneering sustainable and scalable solutions for critical metal recovery. This partnership reflects our shared vision with Primobius of leveraging advanced hydrometallurgical processes to drive innovation while ensuring environmental responsibility. We look forward to entering this partnership and collaborating on projects that support a circular economy.”

With demand for batteries rising, especially in the electric vehicle sector, recycling and recovering materials will be crucial in making the supply chain more sustainable. Watercycle and Primobius hope their combined expertise will help push the industry forward while reducing its environmental footprint.