From handheld gadgets to electric vehicles and renewable energy storage, batteries have become deeply ingrained in our daily lives and industrial applications. As the utilization of batteries experiences a rapid surge, a substantial increase in spent batteries is anticipated in the years ahead. Simultaneously, the burgeoning battery manufacturing sector is poised to trigger resource shortages and price escalations for critical metals such as lithium (Li), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), and copper (Cu). Additionally, the improper disposal of used batteries, which yields flammable and toxic waste, poses a significant risk of environmental pollution if not handled with utmost care. Therefore, there is a pressing need to develop efficient technologies for the recycling and reusing of batteries, aiming to recapture valuable materials and alleviate environmental pollution. Furthermore, the pursuit of more sustainable materials, reducing reliance (or even eliminating it) on critical metals, opens up new possibilities for the creation of low-cost, earth-abundant and environmentally friendly energy storage devices and systems. Over the past few years, substantial efforts have been invested in developing improved methods for more efficient battery recycling and sustainable battery chemistries. In this symposium, our goal is to bring together a diverse array of researchers from academia, industry, and government, making it a truly global event with participants invited from around the world. The convergence of researchers on this vital topic has never reached such a pinnacle at this conference, and we aspire to draw renewed attention to it. We firmly believe that this is a rapidly expanding field, and the new direction we are taking will be of widespread interest to attendees.

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