Cellcycle is delighted to announce that the company has been named the winner of the Waste Management Energy Innovation Award at the MRW National Recycling Awards 2025, held in London on 25 November. This recognition marks a proud moment for the business as it continues to strengthen its position at the forefront of sustainable battery recycling innovation in the UK.
The award specifically highlights the progress being made through Cellcycle’s pioneering LithiumCycle™ process – an emerging, bio-based lithium battery recycling technology developed in close collaboration with Coventry University. LithiumCycle™ represents a fundamental shift in how critical materials can be recovered from end-of-life lithium batteries, introducing biotechnology as a viable, environmentally considerate alternative to the high-temperature and chemically intensive refining methods traditionally used.
By leveraging the unique capabilities of bacteria and biometallurgical techniques, the process has the potential to dramatically reduce the environmental impact associated with battery recycling. This includes lower energy consumption, fewer emissions, and a meaningful reduction in chemical use, ultimately helping the UK move toward a more resource-efficient and responsible approach to battery material recovery. As the nation’s electric vehicle and energy storage sectors scale at pace, LithiumCycle™ offers a forward-looking solution to some of the most pressing challenges around critical mineral security and supply-chain sustainability.
The technology is being designed with scalability and real-world application in mind. By enabling the domestic recovery of lithium, nickel, cobalt and other valuable materials, Cellcycle aims to reinforce the UK’s critical mineral resilience and reduce reliance on overseas refining. In doing so, the company is contributing to a more circular, secure and future-proof battery ecosystem that aligns with national priorities for net zero and industrial decarbonisation.
Cellcycle representatives Max Nagle and Dr Mohammad Raouf Hosseini attended the event, joined by Dr Sebastien Farnaud from Coventry University. Their collective presence reflected the spirit of partnership and interdisciplinary collaboration that has driven the development of LithiumCycle™ from early research through to its current progression toward pilot-scale refining. The award serves as a testament to the shared dedication, expertise and ambition that underpin this work.
This achievement further reinforces Cellcycle’s mission to deliver scalable, environmentally responsible solutions capable of meeting the UK’s rapidly increasing need for sustainable battery recycling and critical-mineral recovery. The company remains committed to advancing technologies that support the transition to a low-carbon future, while continuing to invest in the next stages of the LithiumCycle™ journey – from laboratory progress to pilot implementation and, ultimately, commercial-scale refining here in the UK.
