In an era where electric vehicles and digital devices dominate, what happens to the batteries when they reach their end? That’s where the game changes—and Attero leads the charge. Shweta Kumari from The Battery Magazine had a chance to speak with Mr. Nitin Gupta, Co-founder & CEO of Attero, who is pioneering a new frontier in urban mining and battery recycling. He highlighted how Attero’s journey, which began with e-waste recycling in 2008, has now evolved into a cutting-edge mission to recover critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, and nickel with remarkable efficiency. With over 46 global patents, a tech-driven ecosystem, and a vision to close the loop in battery lifecycles, Attero is not just following the sustainability trend—it’s defining it.
From solid-state battery readiness to circular economy models, Mr. Gupta highlighted how Attero’s patented hydrometallurgical technologies, digital platforms like MetalMandi and Selsmart, and global expansion plans are setting new standards in responsible recycling. With a bold strategy to scale up globally and prepare for next-gen battery chemistries, Attero is more than just a recycler—it’s an innovator building a truly circular battery ecosystem. For more on this transformative journey, let’s delve into the interview further.
What catalyzed the inception of Attero, and how has the company’s mission evolved in response to advancements in battery technologies and increasing sustainability demands?
Attero was founded in 2008 to recycle e-waste sustainably and then look at recovering crucial minerals which can be recovered from them to promote circularity. Over time, as EVs and lithium-ion batteries became central to the global energy transition, we expanded into battery recycling, aligning with the urgent need for a secure, ethical, and circular supply chain for critical materials like lithium, cobalt, and nickel. Today, Attero is an urban recycling company meeting the needs of consumers and businesses.
Can you elaborate on Attero’s proprietary technologies, such as your patented urban mining processes, and how they contribute to achieving over 98% recovery efficiency in lithium-ion battery recycling?
Attero’s technology is a result of over a decade of R&D and is protected by 46+ global patents. Our process combines mechanical preprocessing with a proprietary hydrometallurgical method that allows us to recover over 98% of critical metals like lithium, cobalt, and nickel with 99.9% purity. What sets us apart is our ability to process black mass at scale, something few companies globally can do efficiently. Our hydrometallurgy-based approach is not only energy-efficient but also minimizes toxic emissions, making it a cleaner alternative to traditional pyrometallurgy.
What makes Attero’s recycling approach different or more efficient compared to traditional methods?
Traditional recycling methods, especially pyrometallurgy, are energy-intensive and release significant emissions. Attero’s hydrometallurgical process operates at lower temperatures and uses selective chemical leaching to extract metals with high precision. This leads to higher yields, better purity, and a significantly smaller carbon footprint. We are also vertically integrated from collection to material recovery, which allows us to control quality, traceability, and efficiency throughout the chain. Our digital tech stack, including platforms like MetalMandi and Selsmart, further optimizes procurement and logistics in real-time.
What happens to the recovered materials after recycling? Are they reintegrated into battery manufacturing?
Yes, absolutely. The recovered materials like lithium, cobalt, and nickel are refined to battery-grade specifications and supplied back to cell manufacturers, closing the loop on battery lifecycles. This not only reduces the need for virgin mining but also ensures a stable, traceable, and low-carbon feedstock for battery production. We work with both Indian and global OEMs to integrate these recovered materials into new batteries, supporting sustainability and compliance with recycled content mandates.
How do you see global or regional e-waste regulations influencing your operations?
Regulations are a major tailwind. India’s Battery Waste Management Rules and EPR mandates have been transformative, pushing manufacturers toward formal recycling partnerships and traceability. Globally, similar trends are taking shape—battery passport systems in the EU, IRA incentives in the US, and traceability laws in Asia. These policies are creating a compliance-driven demand for high-quality recycling and traceable recovered materials, which directly aligns with Attero’s model. We are already ISO 14064-certified for GHG emissions and operate with full digital traceability, putting us ahead of the curve.
What are your projections for the battery recycling industry’s growth in the next decade, and how is Attero preparing to meet the anticipated demand and technological shifts?
Battery recycling is expected to grow over 20x by 2035, driven by the surge in EV adoption and energy storage. At Attero, we are scaling rapidly to meet this demand. We aim to process over 300,000 tons of lithium-ion battery waste globally by 2027. To future-proof our technology, we are investing heavily in R&D, especially in areas like solid-state batteries, direct cathode recycling, and even biometallurgy. We are also expanding globally, with plants in Europe, the US, and Southeast Asia, to serve localized demand and reduce logistics emissions.
Could you share details about Attero’s planned investments, such as the Rs. 600 crore lithium-ion battery recycling plant in Telangana, and how these expansions align with your global growth strategy?
The investment in Telangana is a cornerstone of our strategy to double down on domestic capacity while supporting India’s push for clean energy. This state-of-the-art facility will significantly increase our lithium-ion processing volume and strengthen our end-to-end presence in the battery value chain. Globally, we are also setting up plants in the US and Europe. These expansions allow us to license our technology, partner with local stakeholders, and offer traceable, low-carbon materials wherever demand arises. It is about building a truly circular global network.
What collaborative opportunities does Attero see with OEMs, policymakers, and other stakeholders to foster a more sustainable and efficient battery recycling ecosystem?
We work directly with OEMs to co-develop take-back systems, integrate recycled battery materials into new cells, and support compliance with EPR and battery waste regulations. On the policy front, we actively engage with regulators to strengthen recycling mandates, traceability protocols, and quality standards for recovered materials.
Our digital platforms play a critical role in scaling collection and processing. Selsmart is designed for consumer-facing collection which helps households and small businesses dispose of used electronics responsibly through a seamless digital interface and doorstep pickup. On the industrial side, MetalMandi connects bulk scrap generators including manufacturers, IT parks, and refurbishers with certified recyclers, ensuring traceable, compliant, and efficient movement of high-value e-waste and end-of-life batteries.
These platforms bridge the gap between informal collection and formal processing, bringing transparency and accountability to both supply and logistics. Alongside that, we also invest in awareness campaigns and workforce training to support the long-term growth of India’s recycling ecosystem.
How is Attero investing in research and development to address emerging battery technologies, such as solid-state batteries, and what innovations are on the horizon?
We have built a robust in-house R&D division focused on next-gen battery chemistries, including solid-state and LFP technologies. We are exploring direct cathode-to-cathode recycling methods, which promise to retain more material value with fewer process steps. Our long-term roadmap includes using AI and data analytics to predict battery degradation and optimize second-life applications. Innovation is embedded into our DNA, and we invest a significant portion of our revenue into staying ahead of the curve, both technologically and environmentally.
What initiatives does Attero have in place to develop the skilled workforce necessary for advanced battery recycling operations, and how do you address the challenges in this area?
Talent development is a priority, and upskilling is an ongoing activity, especially as we expand internationally and adopt new tech. We run in-house programs for specialized roles, from plant technicians to chemical engineers. We also focus on integrating informal sector workers into the formal economy by offering training and employment. The challenge lies in matching rapid tech evolution with workforce readiness, but with structured programs and industry-academia collaboration. We are working on closing this gap.
