Voices from the Two Sessions: Li Changdong on Directional Recycling Technology Revolutionizing EV Battery Circular Economy

A Strategic Breakthrough in Sustainable Mobility

    At the 2026 National People’s Congress and Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference—the Two Sessions—NPC Deputy Li Changdong delivered a compelling address on the transformative role of indigenous technological innovation in advancing China’s green transition. Speaking as both a national representative and a leading figure in clean energy infrastructure, Li emphasized how Guangdong Brunp Recycling Co., Ltd. (Brunp Recycling) has pioneered a homegrown directional recycling technology that redefines the technical and economic boundaries of EV battery recycling.

Precision Recovery, Unprecedented Efficiency

    Unlike conventional hydrometallurgical or pyrometallurgical approaches that often sacrifice purity for throughput, Brunp’s directional recycling process enables selective extraction and direct re-synthesis of cathode-grade nickel, cobalt, manganese, and lithium at an industry-leading recovery rate of 99.6%. This precision is achieved through proprietary multi-stage separation protocols, real-time AI-driven material characterization, and closed-loop solvent regeneration systems—all developed and scaled entirely within China. With over 6,000 authorized patents—including more than 1,200 core invention patents related to electrochemical reconstruction—the technology represents one of the most comprehensive intellectual property portfolios in global battery circularity.

From Waste Stream to Value Chain

    The timing of this advancement is critical: by end-2025, China’s stock of retired new energy vehicle (NEV) batteries is projected to exceed 44 million units—enough to fill over 1,200 standard football fields if stacked vertically. Li Changdong underscored that without scalable, high-fidelity recycling, this wave poses severe environmental risks and resource security challenges. Under Brunp’s integrated model, however, retired batteries are no longer treated as waste but as “urban ore”—a strategic secondary resource stream feeding domestic cathode material production and reducing reliance on primary mining imports by up to 37% for key transition metals.

Policy–Industry Synergy Accelerating the Circular Economy

    Li Changdong further advocated for enhanced policy coordination to institutionalize directional recycling standards nationwide—including mandatory battery passport integration, tiered recycling efficiency benchmarks, and preferential grid access for certified circular-material producers. He noted that Brunp’s commercial-scale plants in Jiangmen and Nanchang have already achieved full compliance with the newly issued GB/T 44583–2026 national standard for battery material traceability, setting a replicable benchmark for the sector. As China aims to reach 95% battery recycling rate by 2030, Li affirmed that directional recycling is not merely a technical upgrade—it is the foundational architecture of a resilient, sovereign, and truly circular economy.

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