The Global Recycled Cobalt Market was valued at USD 1,608 Million in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 3,876 Million by 2034, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 13.7% during the forecast period (2025–2034). This robust growth is being driven by the explosive expansion of the electric vehicle (EV) industry, stringent regulatory mandates for sustainable sourcing, and major corporate commitments to circular economy principles, such as Apple’s goal to use 100% recycled cobalt in all designed batteries by 2025.

As the global economy pivots towards electrification and sustainable supply chains, the critical role of recycled cobalt in securing ethical and environmentally responsible raw materials has come to the forefront. In this blog, we profile the Top 10 Companies in the Recycled Cobalt Industry—a dynamic mix of specialized recyclers, integrated material suppliers, and innovative startups that are building the foundation for a circular battery economy.

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🔟 1. Umicore

Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium
Key Offering: Battery-Grade Cobalt Salts, Cathode Precursors, Closed-Loop Recycling Services

Umicore is a global leader in sustainable technologies and a pioneer in closed-loop recycling for rechargeable battery materials. Its dedicated battery recycling plant in Belgium uses a unique combination of pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical processes to recover high-purity cobalt, nickel, and lithium from end-of-life batteries and production scrap. Umicore serves major automotive OEMs and battery cell manufacturers, providing a secure and traceable source of recycled materials.

Sustainability Initiatives:

• Achieved a recycling rate of over 95% for cobalt and other valuable metals

• Committed to powering its operations with 100% renewable electricity by 2025

• Strategic partnerships with automakers like Audi and Tesla for closed-loop battery recycling

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9️⃣ 2. GEM Co., Ltd.

Headquarters: Shenzhen, China
Key Offering: Recycled Cobalt Sulfate, Nickel Sulfate, Battery Material Precursors

GEM is one of the world’s largest producers of recycled cobalt from battery materials, with a significant market share in China. The company operates an extensive network for collecting end-of-life batteries and electronic waste, feeding its advanced hydrometallurgical recycling facilities. GEM’s integrated approach allows it to supply high-purity cobalt sulfate directly to the cathode active material (CAM) industry, making it a critical supplier for China’s booming EV battery sector.

Sustainability Initiatives:

• Annual capacity to process over 300,000 tons of battery waste and e-waste

• Targets to reduce carbon emissions by 50% per unit of product by 2030

• Key supplier to CATL, BYD, and other major Chinese battery giants

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8️⃣ 3. Redwood Materials

Headquarters: Carson City, Nevada, USA
Key Offering: Refined Cobalt, Nickel, Lithium, Anode Copper Foil

Founded by Tesla co-founder JB Straubel, Redwood Materials is rapidly scaling North America’s largest battery recycling and materials refining operation. The company focuses on creating a closed-loop domestic supply chain for critical battery materials, processing end-of-life batteries and manufacturing scrap from partners like Panasonic and Amazon. Redwood’s hydrometallurgical process produces battery-grade cobalt and nickel suitable for new cathode production.

Sustainability Initiatives:

• Aiming to produce enough anode and cathode materials for 5 million EVs annually by 2030

• Recovering over 95% of key battery metals from received feedstock

• Strategic partnerships with Ford, Volkswagen, and Toyota for battery collection and recycling

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7️⃣ 4. Huayou Holding Group

Headquarters: Tongxiang, Zhejiang, China
Key Offering: Recycled Cobalt Intermediate, Cobalt Sulfate, Lithium Carbonate

Huayou is a vertically integrated cobalt giant with a substantial and growing footprint in recycling. Leveraging its deep expertise in cobalt processing from primary sources, Huayou has invested heavily in building recycling capacity to complement its mining operations. The company processes hard metal scrap and battery waste to produce cobalt intermediates that are further refined into battery-grade materials, serving a global client base.

Sustainability Initiatives:

• Invested over $300 million in building advanced battery recycling facilities

• Committed to increasing the share of recycled materials in its product portfolio

• Participates in industry initiatives for responsible sourcing and supply chain transparency

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6️⃣ 5. Brunp Recycling (A subsidiary of CATL)

Headquarters: Hunan, China
Key Offering: Battery-Grade Cobalt Salts, Nickel Salts, Cathode Material Precursors

As the recycling arm of Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL), the world’s largest battery maker, Brunp Recycling holds a uniquely strategic position. It has access to a massive and consistent stream of production scrap from CATL’s gigafactories, ensuring a high-quality feedstock. Brunp’s advanced recycling technology allows it to recover and purify cobalt and other metals to the stringent specifications required for CATL’s next-generation batteries.

Sustainability Initiatives:

• Integrated directly into the supply chain of the world’s leading battery manufacturer

• Focus on “urban mining” to create a sustainable, localized material supply

• Developing technologies for direct cathode recycling to further improve efficiency

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5️⃣ 6. Accurec Recycling GmbH

Headquarters: Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany
Key Offering: Recycled Cobalt, Nickel, and Lithium from Batteries

Accurec is a leading European battery recycler with proprietary mechanical and hydrometallurgical processes. The company specializes in handling a wide variety of lithium-ion batteries from consumer electronics, power tools, and the automotive sector. Accurec’s facility in Germany is designed to process complex battery chemistries safely and efficiently, recovering high-value metals for re-entry into the manufacturing cycle.

Sustainability Initiatives:

• Pioneer in mechanical pre-treatment and safe battery discharging technologies

• High recovery rates exceeding 90% for cobalt, nickel, and copper

• Complies with stringent EU Battery Directive and waste shipment regulations

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4️⃣ 7. Duesenfeld GmbH

Headquarters: Wendeburg, Germany
Key Offering: Low-Carbon Recycled Cobalt, Hydro-Metallurgical Recycling

Duesenfeld has developed an innovative, low-temperature recycling process that significantly reduces energy consumption and CO2 emissions compared to conventional methods. Its hydro-metallurgical technique avoids high-temperature smelting, allowing for the efficient recovery of high-purity cobalt, lithium, and other materials with a minimal environmental footprint. This approach is particularly attractive for European battery producers focused on reducing the carbon footprint of their supply chains.

Sustainability Initiatives:

• Proprietary process reduces CO2 emissions by up to 40% versus traditional recycling

• Recovery rate of over 90% for all battery materials, including graphite

• Collaborations with German automakers and research institutes

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3️⃣ 8. Li-Cycle Holdings Corp.

Headquarters: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Key Offering: Black Mass, Battery-Grade Cobalt Sulfate, Nickel Sulfate

Li-Cycle utilizes a patented, energy-efficient “Spoke & Hub” model for lithium-ion battery recycling. Its “Spoke” facilities mechanically process batteries into “black mass,” which is then processed at central “Hub” facilities using a water-based hydrometallurgical technology to produce battery-grade materials, including cobalt sulfate. The company is expanding rapidly across North America and Europe to create a decentralized recycling network.

Sustainability Initiatives:

• Claims up to 95% recovery rate for key battery materials

• Zero wastewater discharge and minimal air emissions from its process

• Strategic partnerships with Glencore and LG Energy Solution for feedstock and offtake

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2️⃣ 9. Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd.

Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
Key Offering: High-Purity Recycled Cobalt, Nickel Matte, Cathode Materials

Sumitomo Metal Mining, a major supplier of cathode materials to the Japanese automotive industry, has integrated battery recycling into its operations to secure a sustainable raw material base. The company leverages its extensive metallurgical expertise to recover cobalt and nickel from battery scrap, which is then used to produce NCA and NMC cathode materials for leading EV manufacturers.

Sustainability Initiatives:

• Developing advanced sorting and smelting technologies for efficient metal recovery

• Focus on creating a domestic recycling loop for Japan’s automotive industry

• Commitment to reducing the lifecycle carbon footprint of its battery materials

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1️⃣ 10. Fortum Battery Recycling

Headquarters: Espoo, Finland
Key Offering: Cobalt, Nickel, and Manganese from Battery Waste

Fortum, a Finnish energy company, has developed a low-CO2 hydrometallurgical battery recycling process at its pilot plant in Harjavalta, Finland. The company’s method focuses on maximizing the recovery of valuable metals with high purity, catering to the stringent requirements of the European battery market. Fortum is scaling up its operations to support the region’s ambitions for a self-sufficient battery value chain.

Sustainability Initiatives:

• Recovery rate of over 80% for cobalt, nickel, and manganese from black mass

• Low-carbon process integrated with renewable energy sources

• Part of the “Battery Value Chain” ecosystem in the Nordic region

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🌍 Outlook: The Future of Recycled Cobalt Is Central to a Sustainable Battery Ecosystem

The recycled cobalt market is undergoing a fundamental transformation. As primary mining faces geopolitical and ethical challenges, the industry is investing billions in advanced recycling infrastructure, innovative hydrometallurgical processes, and closed-loop partnerships to secure a sustainable supply of this critical battery metal.

📈 Key Trends Shaping the Market:

• Rapid scaling of recycling capacity in North America and Europe to match regional battery production

• Regulatory push for mandatory recycled content in batteries (e.g., EU Battery Regulation)

• Vertical integration between recyclers, battery makers, and automotive OEMs to create circular supply chains

• Technological innovation in direct recycling methods to improve economics and material recovery

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Recycled Cobalt Market – View in Detailed Research Report

The companies listed above are not only processing battery waste—they are fundamentally reshaping the critical materials landscape for a electrified, circular future.