What if a used smartphone might turn out to be a part of a brand-new system?
Previously confined to the creativeness, this concept is now a actuality with Samsung Electronics’ Circular Battery Supply Chain — an initiative that recovers and reuses key supplies from the batteries of used Galaxy smartphones. The Galaxy S25 marks the primary time this closed-loop battery recycling system has been utilized to Samsung’s flagship lineup.
Samsung Newsroom spoke with Youngmin Kim from the Circular Economy Lab within the Global Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) Office and Sangcheul Lee from the Battery Group within the Mobile eXperience (MX) Business at Samsung Electronics to be taught extra concerning the growth and influence of this mission.
▲ (From left) Sangcheul Lee and Youngmin Kim
Used Galaxy Devices Reborn as Valuable Resources
Each yr, roughly 200 tons of waste battery materials had been collected at Samsung’s manufacturing amenities in Vietnam. Countries with correct recycling infrastructure can repurpose used batteries for functions like electrical car batteries. Vietnam, nonetheless, lacked the means to take action. Recognizing the necessity for a sustainable resolution, the corporate determined to deal with the difficulty.
“Samsung’s Vietnam facilities are among those that generate the highest volume of waste batteries, including defective units from the manufacturing process and batteries recovered from a factory that repairs Galaxy phones traded in from the United States,” stated Youngmin Kim. “Our goal was to create a system that would allow us to recycle these resources and reintegrate them into our products.”
▲ Youngmin Kim explains the Circular Battery Supply Chain whereas showcasing cobalt and cathode supplies.
To develop an environment friendly recycling course of for Vietnam’s waste batteries, Samsung partnered with a number of firms to construct an optimized useful resource circularity system that linked cobalt extraction vegetation with battery manufacturing traces in neighboring nations.
“For the Galaxy S24 series, we sourced recycled cobalt externally,” he defined. “However, with the Galaxy S25, we implemented a fully closed-loop recycling system that extracts cobalt directly from discarded Galaxy batteries.”
The collected waste batteries are processed into high-purity cobalt, then shipped to the battery manufacturing line the place it’s built-in into Galaxy S25 batteries. This course of transforms digital waste from used Galaxy gadgets right into a beneficial useful resource, supporting Samsung’s imaginative and prescient for a sustainable round economic system.
▲ Samsung’s Circular Battery Supply Chain in motion
More particularly, the Circular Battery Supply Chain begins with accumulating used Galaxy smartphones, adopted by dismantling and discharging their batteries. These batteries are then shredded and processed right into a high-quality powder generally known as “black mass.” This materials is subsequently refined to extract cobalt — which is used to supply cathode supplies, a key part of the Galaxy S25 battery.
The Endless Recyclability of Cobalt
Cobalt is important for sustaining the steadiness and efficiency of lithium-ion batteries in smartphones. While lithium carries electrons throughout the battery, cobalt facilitates lithium’s motion to make sure optimum battery operation.
▲ Cobalt ore samples
“Cobalt does not degrade with battery use, meaning it can theoretically be recycled indefinitely,” stated Lee. “Recycled cobalt and newly mined cobalt are virtually identical — so much so that the difference is indistinguishable in the manufacturing process.”
In essence, Galaxy gadgets containing cobalt will be recycled and repurposed no matter their manufacturing date.
▲ Samsung’s Circular Battery Supply Chain on show at Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2025 in Barcelona
“The key to extracting high-purity cobalt lies in technology,” stated Kim. “Through our Circular Battery…
