What’s Happening: Starting on Earth Day, Volkswagen of America and Redwood Materials are partnering to provide consumers with a convenient way to recycle rechargeable devices and lithium-ion batteries. Participating Volkswagen dealerships will have Redwood bins available for the safe disposal of items such as cell phones, laptops, tablets, and cordless power tools. The recycling program will kick off at 14 dealerships, with additional locations joining throughout the year.
Why It Matters: This collaboration builds on the strategic recycling partnership between Volkswagen Group of America and Redwood, which began last year with the goal of creating a circular EV economy. Redwood’s technology can recover over 95% of critical minerals from batteries, such as nickel, cobalt, lithium, and copper. These recycled materials can then be used to produce battery components for electric vehicles and energy storage products. If adopted industry-wide, recycling programs like this could help reduce battery costs and lessen the need for mining and shipping raw materials.
Key Points:
- The program officially launches at 14 Volkswagen dealerships on Earth Day, April 22, with a soft launch at the New York International Auto Show from April 5-16.
- Redwood’s recycling technology can recover more than 95% of critical minerals from batteries, potentially reducing battery costs and the demand for raw materials.
- Volkswagen Group plans to introduce over 25 new battery electric vehicles in the U.S. by 2030, targeting 55% of its sales to be fully electric by that time.
Bottom Line: The collaboration between Volkswagen and Redwood Materials aims to provide consumers with a convenient way to recycle rechargeable devices and batteries while promoting sustainability in the EV industry. By reusing critical minerals, this recycling initiative could reduce costs and reliance on raw materials, ultimately contributing to more accessible and sustainable electric mobility for American drivers.
