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Batteries

© Öko-Institut

© Öko-Institut

Whether they are destined for use in e-mobility, industry or renewable energy storage, batteries are a key focus of interest when resource and recycling issues arise – not least because they contain substantial quantities of precious metals. Depending on type, an e-vehicle battery can contain as much as 15 kg of cobalt and 4-10 kg of lithium. In its research, the Oeko-Institut looks at the entire battery life cycle: from resource extraction to battery production, end-of-life battery collection, recycling and second-life applications, and explores how sustainability can be integrated at every stage.

The European Union’s new Battery Regulation aims to raise the targets for the total amount of recycled mass while setting specific recovery targets for nickel, cobalt, copper and lithium. It will also include provisions on the use of recycled content in new batteries. The Oeko-Institut supports the process to improve the sustainability of batteries and battery material flows by sharing its expertise and assessing technical issues, goals and policy options. In addition to exploring global resource demand issues, its work focuses on end-of-life battery collection, product responsibility and ambitious recovery targets.

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  • Infographic from Öko-Institut e.V. titled "What does socially just climate protection mean?" showing strategies for sustainable, socially acceptable climate protection. Central box labeled "Socially Just Climate Protection" connects to three approaches: Income support (short-term): Includes transfer payments, climate dividends, and energy payments. Price adjustments (short-term): Includes CO₂ levy, reduction of renewable energy levy, and modernization levy. Reduction in energy consumption and emissions (long-term and lasting): Split into two areas: Energy efficiency / renewable energies: building renovation, heating system replacement, climate-friendly mobility. Behaviour / use: energy-saving advice and sufficiency. Silhouettes of diverse people are shown at the bottom, representing the inclusive impact of these measures.

    What does socially just climate protection mean?

    Image10/21/2025
    What does socially just climate protection mean? Support for the transition to climate-friendly alternatives is the most important lever for shaping sustainable, socially acceptable climate protection.
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  • The twelve largest chemical parks in German industry

    Image07/08/2024
    The twelve largest German chemical parks generated 23 million tonnes of CO2 (mt CO2) in 2022, which corresponds to three percent of German greenhouse gas emissions.
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  • Coastal Ecosystems: Blue Carbon Storage

    Image05/29/2024
    Seagrass meadows, mangrove forests and salt marshes can absorb and store up to 216 million tons of carbon from the atmosphere worldwide every year. Over centuries to millennia, they form an enormous carbon store of up to 22,000 million tons of carbon in marine sediment. At the same time, they make an important contribution to the preservation of biodiversity in the oceans and on the coasts, help to protect against storm surges and coastal protection and thus contribute to the nutrition and safety of millions of people. This is shown in a research report by the Öko-Institut and the Leibniz Center for Tropical Marine Research commissioned by the German Environment Agency, which examines the importance of coastal ecosystems for global climate protection.
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