News

Driving Ireland’s Battery Circular Economy: Insights from the BASTILLE Stakeholder Workshop

On 6 February 2025, the BASTILLE Project brought together policymakers, industry leaders, and researchers to tackle the barriers and opportunities in Ireland’s battery recycling sector. The workshop, hosted by Trinity College Dublin and funded under the EPA Research Programme 2030, aimed to align Ireland’s approach with evolving EU regulations and best practices from across Europe.

Key Challenges and Opportunities
Ireland faces significant hurdles in scaling up its battery recycling capabilities. The new EU Battery Regulation introduces stricter collection, recycling, and repurposing targets, yet fragmented collection systems, regulatory bottlenecks, and safety concerns pose major obstacles. Stakeholders highlighted the need for a level playing field, stronger Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) frameworks, and investment in infrastructure to support Ireland’s transition to a circular battery economy.
The workshop also explored opportunities for battery repurposing and graphite recovery, key areas where Ireland could integrate into the European supply chain. Discussions emphasised the need for financial incentives to attract investment and the development of scalable recycling hubs to ensure long-term viability.

Lessons from Europe: Best Practices and Regulatory Insights
Two keynote speakers provided valuable perspectives on the future of battery recycling:

• Eric Ruyters (Eucobat) outlined the compliance challenges of the new Battery Regulation, stressing the urgency of improving collection schemes, liability frameworks, and SME training to align with EU standards.
• Kenneth Ekman (Fortum, Finland) demonstrated how Finland has successfully scaled battery recycling through hydrometallurgical processing, modular collection hubs, and stringent safety measures. He emphasised the economies of scale needed to make domestic recycling profitable.

Public Awareness: A Critical Missing Link
The role of public awareness in supporting behavioural and societal change is essential. Many consumers remain unaware of the importance of graphite recovery and the impact of battery recycling on sustainability. Raising public awareness is not only about increasing participation in battery recycling but also about ensuring that consumers understand the safe handling of lithium-ion batteries. Unlike standard household batteries, lithium-ion batteries require proper disposal at designated recycling centres or manufacturer take-back systems to prevent safety risks such as overheating or fires. Clear information on battery types, safe disposal methods, and drop-off locations is crucial to ensuring both environmental benefits and public safety. The workshop highlighted the need for nationwide education campaigns, visible collection points, and incentives to encourage participation.

Next Steps for BASTILLE
Building on the insights from this workshop, the BASTILLE Project will:
✅ Conduct stakeholder interviews to refine actionable strategies.
✅ Launch a Societal Readiness Level (SRL) Survey to assess public engagement.
✅ Develop the BASTILLE Implementation Roadmap and Policy White Paper to support Ireland’s role in the European battery recycling landscape.

With the right policies, investments, and public engagement, Ireland can position itself as a leader in circular battery management. Stay updated on the latest project developments.

CIRCTHREAD Hackathon: Shaping the Future of Circularity in Manufacturing

The CIRCTHREAD Hackathon is taking place on 25 - 26 February 2025 in Dublin, Ireland, bringing together innovators, researchers, and industry professionals to advance circularity in the manufacturing sector. Organised by IMR (Irish Manufacturing Research) and the CIRCTHREAD Project, this two-day event focuses on developing digital solutions that enhance product circularity, reuse, and sustainable lifecycle management.

Participants will collaborate on real-world challenges, leveraging digital product passports and innovative data-driven approaches to improve resource efficiency across industries. The hackathon is a unique opportunity to explore cutting-edge technologies, exchange knowledge, and contribute to the future of sustainable manufacturing.

Why is this event important?
The CIRCTHREAD Hackathon aligns with the BASTILLE Project’s mission to foster sustainable and circular practices in industrial processes, particularly in battery production and recycling. The event underscores the critical role of digital tools in driving the circular economy, a key aspect of Europe’s transition to a more sustainable and resilient industrial landscape.

We would like to encourage our stakeholders to join this event and to follow its outcomes and explore how digital innovations can support a more circular, efficient, and competitive European industry. 

📅 Date: 25th–26th February 2025 (Join one or both days!)

📍 Location: IMR Mullingar, N91 TX80, Ireland | Google Maps

📩 Email any queries to circthread@imr.ie 

For more information visit the event website.

Advancing Ireland’s Circular Economy: Lessons from Europe and Stakeholder Collaboration

The BASTILLE project is delighted to announce an upcoming stakeholder workshop in Dublin, Ireland, focused on advancing the Circular Economy with a particular emphasis on battery recycling and sustainable management of critical materials like graphite.

When and Where:
Date: 6 February 2025
Time: 10:00 – 15:30 (GMT)
Location: Buswells Hotel, 23 Molesworth Street, Dublin 2, Room: The Georgian Suite

Workshop Objectives:
The event aims to 
- Gather Irish stakeholder insights on barriers and enablers to the Circular Economy.
- Integrate lessons learned from European stakeholders to contextualise challenges and opportunities for Ireland.
- Facilitate dialogue on technological, regulatory, and societal aspects of battery recycling.
- Develop actionable recommendations to inform Ireland’s battery recycling roadmap and project deliverables.

What to Expect:
Participants will have the opportunity 
- To share insights and contribute to shaping Ireland’s battery recycling roadmap.
- Learn from successful European initiatives and explore their relevance to Ireland.
- Engage with policymakers, industry leaders, and researchers to advance Circular Economy principles.

Agenda Highlights: 
The workshop includes 
- Presentations on findings from European stakeholders and best practices.
- Breakout sessions on policy, societal change, and technological barriers.
- Collaborative discussions to develop regulatory, technological, and community-driven solutions.
Stakeholder voting on actionable solutions.

About BASTILLE:
The BASTILLE project is dedicated to advancing the Circular Economy in Ireland by addressing challenges in battery recycling and critical material management. By integrating European best practices and fostering collaboration among diverse stakeholders, BASTILLE contributes to Ireland’s energy transition and aligns with EU Battery Regulation.

Join Us:
We look forward to welcoming you to this collaborative event to shape Ireland’s sustainable and resilient energy future.

Register Now: To confirm your participation, please send an email to: sochorova@ecga.net

This workshop is funded under the EPA Research Programme 2021–2030, a Government of Ireland initiative supported by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications.