Aachen/Dormagen, January 29, 2026 – cylib has completed a landmark customer project by producing battery-grade lithium carbonate from end-of-life nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) lithium-ion batteries. The recycled material has been qualified by an international battery manufacturer and is now being integrated into new electric vehicle battery production, demonstrating a key step toward a circular battery ecosystem in Europe.
“Working closely with a leading battery manufacturer and meeting their strict specifications proves our water-based OLiC (Optimised Lithium and Graphite Recovery) technology, delivers commercial-grade circular materials. Our recycled lithium carbonate is now going into new EV batteries – the loop is closed,” says Dr Lilian Schwich, Co-founder and Co-CEO.
“Meeting the exacting standards of a leading battery manufacturer confirms that our OLiC technology delivers circular materials at a commercial grade,” said Dr. Lilian Schwich, Co-founder and Co-CEO of cylib. “With recycled lithium carbonate now entering new EV batteries, we have effectively closed the materials loop.”
Although confidentiality agreements prevent the disclosure of the qualifying partner, the successful integration of the recycled material into production highlights the broad applicability of cylib’s approach. Recovering critical battery components locally reduces Europe’s dependence on imported raw materials and bolsters supply security for regional battery producers.
“This project shows that Europe can establish a truly circular battery value chain,” added Schwich. “Local recovery of essential materials not only minimizes import reliance but also strengthens the resilience of European supply chains.”
Founded in 2022 in Aachen by Dr. Lilian Schwich, Paul Sabarny, and Dr. Gideon Schwich, cylib employs more than 120 people and builds on research from RWTH Aachen University. Its OLiC technology achieves over 90% recycling efficiency for lithium, graphite, nickel, cobalt, and manganese, while reducing carbon emissions by about 80% compared to primary extraction.
Source: CYLIB
