We are pleased to announce the publication of the RELiEF project’s Policy Brief, authored by TechConcepts in collaboration with project partners (INEGI and LUT University), offering actionable recommendations for the European Chips Act and the upcoming Circular Economy Act.
Based on extensive stakeholder engagement and technical analysis, the brief identifies four systemic barriers to a circular battery economy in Europe: regulatory fragmentation, unsustainable ecosystems, an incomplete circular model, and a deficit in social acceptance.
To address these challenges, the brief proposes four targeted actions for EU policymakers:
- Standardize the Definition of Secondary CRMs – Recognize high-purity materials from waste streams as strategic resources.
- Level the Playing Field through Verifiable Sustainability – Mandate independent verification of environmental footprints for all materials entering the EU market.
- Incentivize Circulation and Cost-Competitiveness – Introduce fiscal incentives for materials sourced within circular ecosystems.
- Institutionalize Adaptive Governance and Social License – Embed community engagement and flexible governance in project lifecycles.
The RELiEF project, funded by Horizon Europe, developed innovative processes for recovering high-purity lithium from secondary sources to support a circular European battery value chain.
Read the full policy brief here – RELiEF_Policy_Brief_final