Micromobility provider Lime has inked a new deal with Redwood Materials to recycle batteries from its scooters and e-bikes across select international markets. The partnership, announced April 14, positions Redwood as Lime’s exclusive battery recycling partner in the United States, Germany, and the Netherlands.
Closing the Loop: Battery Recycling at Scale
Under the agreement, Redwood Materials will extract critical minerals—including lithium, cobalt, nickel, and copper—from used batteries and return them to the supply chain. The closed-loop recycling model aims to reduce dependency on mining and help create a more sustainable battery ecosystem.
Founded by former Tesla executive JB Straubel, Redwood Materials is rapidly becoming a leader in battery recycling. The Nevada-based company will now process materials directly from Lime’s battery packs, marking a shift from previous third-party vendor partnerships.
Supporting Sustainability Targets
Lime says the effort is part of its broader goal to decarbonize operations by 2030. The company has already reduced emissions by 59.5% since 2019, covering all major emission scopes, and plans to publish its updated sustainability report in May 2025.
Andrew Savage, Lime’s VP for Sustainability, said the partnership “marks significant progress toward establishing a more circular supply chain.” He emphasized the importance of responsible recycling and reintegration of recovered materials into the production cycle.
Beyond the U.S.: Expanding Second-Life Programs
Although the Redwood deal currently covers only North America and parts of Europe, Lime is also pursuing “second-life” battery applications elsewhere. In the U.K. and France, Lime collaborates with Gomi and VoltR to repurpose battery cells for consumer electronics like portable speakers and power banks.
Redwood already works with Lyft, Specialized, and Rad Power Bikes on similar recycling programs, and recently expanded with an R&D center in San Francisco.
