In its opinion CCMI/250, adopted at the plenary session of 18-19 February 2026, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) identified sodium-ion battery manufacturing as an opportunity to strengthen the EU's strategic autonomy. For the recycling industry, it signals new challenges.

Why sodium?

• Abundant raw material. According to the EESC opinion, sodium makes up around 2.9% of the Earth's crust, compared with only around 0.0021% for lithium.
• Lower costs. Citing the International Energy Agency (IEA), the EESC notes that by 2030 the cost of sodium-ion batteries could fall to around USD 50/kWh, compared with around USD 100/kWh for today's LFP batteries.
• Less dependence on critical raw materials. Sodium-ion technology does not require lithium, and many of the cell chemistries under development also do without cobalt.

Europe and the global battery market

The opinion points out that by 2030 China could account for around 70% of global battery production, or more than 6,200 GWh. The EESC therefore calls for stronger coordination within the European Battery Alliance so that Europe can build its own capabilities in sodium-ion technology as well.

What does this mean for recycling?

The spread of sodium-ion batteries will change the stream of waste batteries reaching recyclers. These cells contain fewer valuable metals than lithium-ion batteries with nickel and cobalt, so the economics of recycling them will be different. Recyclers will need to adapt their technologies, and extended producer responsibility schemes should ensure funding for the collection and treatment of these batteries too.

Wastes Service Group follows the development of new cell chemistries and is preparing for changes in the waste stream. Today, our services include lithium-ion battery recycling as well as safe storage and transport of batteries.