Hong Kong-based company GRST has developed a water-soluble battery binder designed to enhance battery recycling by reducing pollution and improving the recovery of critical metals, the firm’s chief strategy officer, Frank Harley, said during the BloombergNEF Summit in New York on April 22, 2026.
According to Harley, the new binder technology simplifies the initial stage of recycling, making the process more efficient. This innovation is expected to facilitate cleaner and more effective reuse of valuable materials from spent batteries.
GRST is collaborating with seven equipment manufacturers based in China, who supply battery recycling systems primarily used for electric vehicle (EV) batteries. The end customers for these batteries are mainly European EV producers and consumer electronics manufacturers.
Why it matters
Battery recycling is a critical component in the sustainability of electric vehicles, given the growing demand for metals such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel. GRST’s water-soluble binder addresses challenges in recycling by reducing environmental pollution and enabling higher metal recovery rates, which could lower dependency on raw mining and support the EV industry’s circular economy goals.
Background
Battery binders are essential materials that hold the active components of a battery together. Traditional binders are often difficult to remove during recycling, complicating the recovery of metals and generating hazardous waste. Innovations like GRST’s water-soluble binder represent a shift towards more environmentally friendly recycling technologies, aligning with global efforts to improve the sustainability of battery supply chains.
Sources
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