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GRS drives R&D

The purpose and aim of Stiftung GRS Batterien are to improve the circular economy, to make more products recyclable, and to continue to improve the level of product responsibility on behalf of the manufacturers. Consequently, the major tasks of the foundation include research and development, giving advice as well as providing information and communications to raise awareness and improve performance of the battery collection points. Important variables in this respect are economic viability, environmental and social compatibility.

Germany as a research centreUN Sustainability GoalsTopicsProjects
Fotomontage. Zwei offene Hände, umgeben von mehreren Diagrammen und einer grafisch dargestellten voll geladenen Batterie
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Germany intends to become a centre for research, production and recycling of battery cells

This federal government’s coalition agreement (2021-2025) stipulates that that Germany is to become a centre for the research, production and recycling of battery cells.

Core aims are to establish further cell production sites, including the recycling process in Germany as well as focussing on new generations of sustainable batteries.

 

A further plan of the federal government is to establish an incentive by which certain electrical appliances and hazardous lithium-ion batteries are disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner and properly returned to the circular economy. Stiftung GRS Batterien assists the federal government in this respect as it serves as a centre of expertise in terms of the circular economy and extended producer responsibility, developing and implementing targeted measures.

Improved circular economy contributes to the UN Sustainability Goals

The United Nations, too, has defined sustainability goals in its 2030 Agenda for Sustainability Development. The GRS foundation can and wishes to contribute towards achieving these goals, most notably:

  • Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
  • Goal 11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
  • Goal 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
  • Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

Topics

Motivation, communication and information

  • Sustained improvement in the taking back of batteries by means of constant further development of consumer communication
  • Development of incentive initiatives
  • Further development of management measures

Recycling

  • Development of sustainable recycling technologies for lithium batteries and other future battery chemicals
  • Further development of technologies and logistical measures to increase the circularity and utilisation of recyclates

Material flow and logistics management

  • Identification of lithium batteries in the material flow of the national take-back scheme

Security

  • Extensive reduction in the security risks pertaining to the collection, logistics and recycling of waste batteries

Reutilisation and reprocessing

  • Measures to check and carry out the recycling or reprocessing of waste batteries borne by the manufacturers

Management systems

  • Ongoing development of tools, methods and processes for planning, managing, monitoring and improving take-back schemes

2 results

Green Mass: Recycling concept for lithium

How can a marketable recycling product be developed from end-of-life lithium-ion batteries?

Schwarzmasse, wie sie nach der „Size Separation“ aufgefangen wird.

ReSynBatt: Batteries made from recycled materials

How can the lithium-ion battery recycling process be organised so that the recyclates can be reused as raw materials?