{ "node": { "id": "term:recycling-efficiency", "type": "Term", "label": "Recycling efficiency", "properties": { "id": "recycling-efficiency", "name": "Recycling efficiency", "section": "topic-recycling", "definition": "The mass of a battery that ends up in useful products, as a share of the battery’s mass, calculated by the method fixed under the EU Battery Regulation; separate material recovery targets apply to lithium, cobalt, nickel and copper. Energy recovery by burning does not count.", "unit": "%", "related": [ "collection-target", "recycled-content", "eu-battery-regulation", "material-recovery-target", "overall-recovery" ], "url": "https://lemonergy.com/learn/glossary/recycling-efficiency/", "mentions": [ "cobalt" ] } }, "edges": [ { "id": "edge:belongsTo/term:recycling-efficiency/topic:topic-recycling", "source": "term:recycling-efficiency", "target": "topic:topic-recycling", "type": "belongsTo", "properties": { "sourceFile": "terms.json" } }, { "id": "edge:relatedTo/term:recycling-efficiency/term:collection-target", "source": "term:recycling-efficiency", "target": "term:collection-target", "type": "relatedTo", "properties": { "sourceFile": "terms.json", "meaning": "Related context; not a causal claim" } }, { "id": "edge:relatedTo/term:recycling-efficiency/term:recycled-content", "source": "term:recycling-efficiency", "target": "term:recycled-content", "type": "relatedTo", "properties": { "sourceFile": "terms.json", "meaning": "Related context; 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Each rate is the mass of the element recovered in usable form over its mass in the waste batteries.", "related": [ "recycling-efficiency", "collection-target", "eu-battery-regulation", "overall-recovery" ], "url": "https://lemonergy.com/learn/glossary/material-recovery-target/", "mentions": [ "cobalt" ] } }, { "id": "term:overall-recovery", "type": "Term", "label": "Overall recovery", "properties": { "id": "overall-recovery", "name": "Overall recovery", "section": "topic-recycling", "aka": [ "chain recovery", "route recovery" ], "definition": "The share of an element in the feed that ends up in the final product after every step of a recycling route, which is the product of the individual step recoveries. Several steps at 95 to 98 % each can bring a route below 90 %.", "related": [ "material-recovery-target", "recycling-efficiency", "black-mass", "leaching" ], "url": "https://lemonergy.com/learn/glossary/overall-recovery/", "mentions": [] } }, { "id": "term:cobalt", "type": "Term", "label": "Cobalt", "properties": { "id": "cobalt", "name": "Cobalt", "section": "topic-sustainability", "definition": "The metal that stabilises layered-oxide cathodes, mined largely in the Democratic Republic of Congo under scrutiny for working conditions. Its price and ethics have driven the industry from LCO and NMC111 towards high-nickel and cobalt-free LFP.", "related": [ "nmc", "lco", "high-nickel", "critical-raw-materials", "due-diligence" ], "url": "https://lemonergy.com/learn/glossary/cobalt/", "mentions": [] } }, { "id": "visual:recycling-efficiency", "type": "Visual", "label": "Recycling efficiency counts every product by mass", "properties": { "title": "Recycling efficiency counts every product by mass", "summary": "Dismantled parts count with the recovered materials, so a heavy pack housing makes the target easier to reach.", "readout": "η = 0.40 + 0.60 × 0.60 = 76.0 %. The 65 % target needs at least 42 % of the cell mass back as product.", "formula": "η = m_products / m_input = p_parts + (1 − p_parts) × r_cells", "note": "Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/606 decides which output fractions count; energy recovery and backfilling never do. Here the parts are taken as fully recovered and every product counts.", "software": { "status": "reference", "label": "Reference concept", "body": "battery-core does not model recycling. The Lemonergy closed-loop recycling study reports this ratio for a returned fleet against Annex XII Part B.", "href": "../glossary/#topic-recycling" }, "html": "
Recycling efficiency against cell recovery
Recycling efficiency against cell recoveryCell mass recovered as product versus Recycling efficiency (%). Recycling efficiency; Target for 2025: 65 %; Target for 2030: 70 %. Interpretation follows the graphs.00250.25500.5750.751001Cell mass recovered as productRecycling efficiency (%)
Recycling efficiencyTarget for 2025: 65 % (dashed)Target for 2030: 70 %
" } }, { "id": "reference:eu-batteries", "type": "Reference", "label": "Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 concerning batteries and waste batteries", "properties": { "title": "Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 concerning batteries and waste batteries", "publisher": "European Union / EUR-Lex", "url": "https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32023R1542", "type": "Regulation", "scope": "Battery sustainability, information, waste management and battery passport provisions. Consult the current consolidated text and applicable implementing acts.", "year": 2023, "accessed": "2026-10-27" } } ] }