Sustainability and Second Life: Integrating the circular economy into the cobalt and lithium supply chains

This fact sheet from the International Institute for Sustainable Development argues for the integration of a circular economy into cobalt and lithium supply chains to support green energy technologies and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It highlights how recycling, reuse, and remanufacturing can mitigate supply shortages, reduce environmental degradation, and create sustainable jobs.

• Cobalt and lithium are critical for green energy technologies, particularly lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles (EVs), but their supply is threatened by projected shortages, price volatility, resource-intensive production, and sourcing issues.
• Integrating a circular economy through mineral recycling, reuse, and remanufacturing can address supply chain vulnerabilities. Reuse involves using a product for its original or a similar purpose without major modification, while remanufacturing involves restoring individual components to an as-new condition.
• Recycling cobalt and lithium batteries supports several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by reducing waste, stabilizing the supply of materials for climate mitigation technologies, and fostering industrial innovation for resource-use efficiency.
• The transition to mineral recycling can improve social and economic outcomes by creating more jobs than permanent waste disposal, improving waste treatment safety, and reducing pressure on conflict-affected and high-risk areas (CAHRAs).
• By the year 2030, approximately 1.2 million EV batteries are expected to reach the end of their first-life, posing risks to soil and water quality if disposal is poorly managed.

APA

International Institute for Sustainable Development (2019). Sustainability and Second Life: Integrating the circular economy into the cobalt and lithium supply chains. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/sustainability-second-life-brochure.pdf

Chicago

International Institute for Sustainable Development. Sustainability and Second Life: Integrating the circular economy into the cobalt and lithium supply chains. 2019. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/sustainability-second-life-brochure.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=International Institute for Sustainable Development |title=Sustainability and Second Life: Integrating the circular economy into the cobalt and lithium supply chains |date=27 March 2019 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/sustainability-second-life-brochure.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{internationalinstituteforsustainabledevelopment2019sustainability, author = {{International Institute for Sustainable Development}}, title = {{Sustainability and Second Life: Integrating the circular economy into the cobalt and lithium supply chains}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2019}, month = mar, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/sustainability-second-life-brochure.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }