Altilium is pleased to announce that it has appointed leading UK sustainability consulting and advisory group Minviro to carry out Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of cathode active materials (CAM) and graphite anodes produced from recycled EV battery materials using its proprietary EcoCathode™ hydrometallurgical process at its ACT 4 battery recycling hub.

The collaboration brings together two innovative British companies committed to the development of a robust and sustainable domestic EV battery ecosystem, helping to position the UK at the forefront of the transition to net zero.

As recently noted by the UK government, “the UK has world-leading recycling innovation” and companies like Altilium and Minviro are playing a critical role in the development of a circular economy for critical battery metals.

The ‘cradle-to-gate’ study will provide valuable insights into the environmental impact and the potential sustainability benefits of a domestic UK battery supply chain producing CAM and graphite anodes versus a China based refining supply chain.

LCA is a robust and globally recognised method for quantifying environmental impacts of products and processes and Minviro has established a world leading reputation for its advanced sustainability expertise in raw material supply chains. In the batteries and EV sector, the company has worked with leading global brands, including Tesla.

The scope of the LCA will cover all stages of Altilium’s unique customer offering, including zero collection of end-of-life feedstock, pre-processing of batteries to produce black mass and production of CAM ready for re-use in a UK Gigafactory.

By recycling waste EV batteries and closing the loop on their life cycle, Altilium can significantly reduce the carbon emissions associated with the production of UK lithium-ion batteries, which are the biggest source of embedded emissions for EVs.

Through continuous innovation, we are also working hard to minimise the environmental impact of recycling to produce the most eco-friendly and lowest carbon battery materials, for example through the development of bioleaching techniques using natural bacteria and the reduction of waste streams, such as sodium sulphate.

We look forward to working with Minviro as we continue our journey to building a UK champion for EV battery recycling, helping to deliver energy security and decarbonising automotive supply chains for a clean transport future.