At the prestigious research institute of Helmhotz in Freiberg, eastern Germany, French scientist Anna Vanderbruggen is fine-tuning the process she has developed to recover the graphite used in lithium-ion batteries. Manufacturers have not been interested in recycling this mineral, which makes up a quarter of a battery's weight, because "right now", as Vanderbruggen explains, "most of the graphite comes from China and there is at the moment still enough supply chains for it". But this recycling technique could soon draw the attention of manufacturers, who will -- by 2031 -- have to comply with a new European regulation requiring them to recycle at least 70% of batteries' weight. And "the great candidate to reach this new regulation is to recycle graphite" says Vanderbruggen, adding that the process can help "go from 50% recycled to 70%." IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES