While the automotive industry is increasingly focused on delivering better performing, more efficient and cheaper-to-run electric vehicles (EVs) – there is a growing understanding that these innovative machines aren’t a complete sustainability solution just yet. And manufacturers can’t ignore what happens to their batteries at end-of-life, if we’re all going to continue along the road to net-zero.
Inspired by this emerging challenge, EMR, a global leader in sustainable materials, has opened a pioneering EV battery recycling facility at its EMR Birmingham site to deliver a brand-new circular economy for this advanced technology. To support this, Lindsey Barnett – an EMR National Account Manager since 2022 – has now switched focus to the fast-changing world of EV battery recycling.
“I have a lot of experience working with some of the largest companies in this sector, buying in their metal, handling the growing amount of WEEE that the UK produces and ensuring there is enough feedstock for EMR’s recycling operations,” she says.
Lindsey has light-heartedly described the role of a National Account Manager as being “paid to shop all day”, but adds that an innovative new recycling service such as this requires a different approach to the likes of WEEE or fridge recycling:
“With EV battery recycling, everything is so new that a lot of my role is about explaining what we’re doing, supporting our customers and making sure they have confidence that EMR can process their end-of-life batteries in a safe, sustainable and cost-effective way.”
With the facility having only recently opened, opportunities to showcase it to customers have been limited, but Lindsey says those who have had a chance to witness the operations have been left impressed by what EMR is doing:
“Everybody who has visited so far has said ‘wow’. We recently welcomed a number of officers from the Environment Agency, and they were gobsmacked by the technology and the safety protocols that we've established.”
Lindsey believes EMR is benefitting from “first-mover advantage” when it comes to EV battery recycling thanks to its role in leading RECOVAS, a consortium of leading recyclers, manufacturers, energy companies and academics, which explored how to build and scale up a circular economy for this technology.
“Through this partnership, we've built up a lot of trust, goodwill and an understanding of where the industry is headed. Our teams are now getting involved as early as the battery development stage – making sure the next generation of batteries are designed with recycling in mind. It’s a really exciting time.”
Collaboration between EMR and manufacturers is key when ensuring a sustainable future for ELV batteries. Ensuring ELVs and the batteries themselves are designed with recyclability in mind is crucial. One relatively simple change, that Lindsey says would help EMR teams in the future, would be to reduce the quantity of glue used to hold battery packs together.
“The amount used at the moment can make it almost impossible for our teams to disassemble the batteries in a safe and efficient way. Car makers face strict new targets for the amount of recycled material they use – and how recyclable their vehicles are – thanks to the upcoming ELV Directive, so this is an area they are really keen to work more closely with us on. I haven’t seen this level of collaboration in the sector before.”
As EMR Coventry continues to set the standard for EV battery recycling in the UK, Lindsey says she is now looking forward to working with her customers to grasp every opportunity – and overcome each and every challenge – as this crucial industry continues to grow.
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