Like all existing vehicle manufacturers, Tesla has not yet figured out a way to completely sever itself from traditional production methods. As mentioned above, their famous batteries add about 15% more carbon emissions on top of the industry average. However, Tesla still does its part to mitigate the effects.  Umicore, a global tech recycling group focused on the reduction of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions and EV innovation, works alongside Tesla to recycle the batteries that so infamously inflate the company’s carbon footprint. By doing so, they effectively recover about 70% of their emitted carbon. (Source: Forbes) Forbes They accomplish this by avoiding the standard mechanical separation process and enabling the creation of products and by-products instead. Below is a direct comparison of the two processes: Below is a direct comparison of the two processes: Umicore Battery Recycling (Source: Umicore)Standard Mechanical Separation (Source: ScienceDirect) Combines pyro- and hydro-metallurgical treatments, which allow for a higher metal recovery rate, better gas cleaning, and lower energy consumption than other recycling processes Converts the battery into three distinct “fractions” for later use: Alloy, containing cobalt, nickel, and copperSlag, for further processing into Rare Earth Elements concentrateClean airRequires numerous physical processes including milling and material separation (which can involve housing removal and several more deconstruction steps) based on the batteries’:DensityConductivityMagnetic field behaviorMore often than not, mechanical separation only partially separates the metals, which is why this can only function as the first step of recyclingThe next steps require thermal treatments, which then demand smoke purification technology, and more energy consumption Umicore Battery Recycling (Source: Umicore)Standard Mechanical Separation (Source: ScienceDirect)Combines pyro- and hydro-metallurgical treatments, which allow for a higher metal recovery rate, better gas cleaning, and lower energy consumption than other recycling processes Converts the battery into three distinct “fractions” for later use: Alloy, containing cobalt, nickel, and copperSlag, for further processing into Rare Earth Elements concentrateClean airRequires numerous physical processes including milling and material separation (which can involve housing removal and several more deconstruction steps) based on the batteries’:DensityConductivityMagnetic field behaviorMore often than not, mechanical separation only partially separates the metals, which is why this can only function as the first step of recyclingThe next steps require thermal treatments, which then demand smoke purification technology, and more energy consumption Umicore Battery Recycling (Source: Umicore)Standard Mechanical Separation (Source: ScienceDirect) Umicore Battery Recycling (Source: Umicore) Umicore Battery Recycling (Source: Umicore Umicore ) Standard Mechanical Separation (Source: ScienceDirect) Standard Mechanical Separation (Source: ScienceDirect ScienceDirect ) Combines pyro- and hydro-metallurgical treatments, which allow for a higher metal recovery rate, better gas cleaning, and lower energy consumption than other recycling processes Converts the battery into three distinct “fractions” for later use: Alloy, containing cobalt, nickel, and copperSlag, for further processing into Rare Earth Elements concentrateClean airRequires numerous physical processes including milling and material separation (which can involve housing removal and several more deconstruction steps) based on the batteries’:DensityConductivityMagnetic field behaviorMore often than not, mechanical separation only partially separates the metals, which is why this can only function as the first step of recyclingThe next steps require thermal treatments, which then demand smoke purification technology, and more energy consumption Combines pyro- and hydro-metallurgical treatments, which allow for a higher metal recovery rate, better gas cleaning, and lower energy consumption than other recycling processes Converts the battery into three distinct “fractions” for later use: Alloy, containing cobalt, nickel, and copperSlag, for further processing into Rare Earth Elements concentrateClean air Requires numerous physical processes including milling and material separation (which can involve housing removal and several more deconstruction steps) based on the batteries’:DensityConductivityMagnetic field behaviorMore often than not, mechanical separation only partially separates the metals, which is why this can only function as the first step of recyclingThe next steps require thermal treatments, which then demand smoke purification technology, and more energy consumption partially