Cellcycle is proud to announce that its LithiumCycle™ process has been shortlisted for Circular Economy Innovation of the Year at the edie Awards 2026, recognising the continued progress of our work to develop a sustainable, UK-based solution for end-of-life lithium batteries.
The edie Awards celebrate organisations that are delivering practical, scalable solutions to some of the most pressing environmental challenges. Being shortlisted in this category reflects the growing importance of circular economy innovation within the battery and energy storage sectors, as well as the role that advanced recycling technologies must play in supporting the UK’s net zero ambitions.
Addressing a Critical Gap in the UK Battery Recycling Landscape
As the volume of end-of-life lithium batteries continues to rise across electric vehicles, energy storage systems, and consumer electronics, the need for efficient and sustainable recycling solutions has never been greater. While the UK has strong collection and treatment capabilities, a significant gap remains in domestic refining and material recovery.
LithiumCycle™ was developed to address this challenge by enabling the recovery of critical battery materials through a bio-based recycling process, designed to reduce environmental impact while supporting a closed-loop battery supply chain.
The Development of LithiumCycle™
LithiumCycle™ has been developed through a long-term research and innovation programme in collaboration with Coventry University, with support from Innovate UK. This work has focused on advancing bioleaching and biometallurgical techniques to recover valuable metals from spent lithium batteries in a more sustainable way.
Through laboratory-scale research and pilot development, the process has demonstrated the potential to recover key materials such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, manganese, and copper, while reducing reliance on traditional energy-intensive refining methods. This ongoing development forms a core part of Cellcycle’s wider vision to establish a commercially viable, low-impact battery recycling solution within the UK.
Supporting the Circular Economy
The Circular Economy Innovation of the Year category recognises initiatives that extend material lifecycles, reduce waste, and improve resource efficiency. LithiumCycle™ directly supports these principles by helping to retain valuable battery materials within the supply chain, reducing dependency on virgin raw materials and overseas processing routes.
By combining compliant battery treatment, secure logistics, and innovative recycling technology, Cellcycle aims to support manufacturers, energy companies, and asset owners in meeting their environmental and regulatory responsibilities while contributing to a more resilient battery ecosystem.
Looking Ahead
Being shortlisted for the edie Awards 2026 is an important milestone in the ongoing development of LithiumCycle™. It reflects the progress made to date and reinforces the importance of continued investment in sustainable battery recycling infrastructure in the UK.
Cellcycle remains focused on scaling LithiumCycle™ from research and pilot-stage development towards commercial application, supporting the transition to a more circular and sustainable future for lithium batteries.
The winners of the edie Awards 2026 will be announced later this year.
