Jälle Technologies is tackling one of the fastest-growing technological and resource challenges: the tidal wave of spent lithium-ion batteries. As the world shifts towards electric mobility and renewable energy, millions of tons of used batteries are expected to flood the market by 2030. These batteries contain valuable metals such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, and manganese, all of which are critical for Europe’s energy security. While recyclers are working hard to recover these metals, one major fraction of the battery – graphite – has largely been overlooked. It makes up to a quarter of every battery, yet most of it is still landfilled or incinerated.
Jälle Technologies, founded in Estonia, has developed an innovative solution to this problem. The company has discovered how to upcycle graphite-rich waste from battery recycling into graphene material, often called a 2D material or the world’s thinnest and strongest material.
This breakthrough not only helps recyclers solve a costly waste issue but also creates a new supply of advanced material for industries ranging from energy storage and electronics to coatings and composites.
“Every battery that reaches its end of life still has more to give,” says Erki Ani, CEO and co-founder of Jälle Technologies. “By transforming waste graphite into graphene material, we are proving that waste is not the end of the story – it is the beginning of something new.”
The company was established by five co-founders with deep expertise in science, engineering, and entrepreneurship. Dr. Kerli Liivand, a specialist in battery recycling and carbon-based materials, leads the technology development as Chief Technology Officer. Dr. Martin Jantson and Dr. Reio Praats contribute strong backgrounds in materials science and metallurgy, advancing the core processes behind Jälle’s innovation. Erki Ani contributes years of experience as a cleantech entrepreneur and investor, where he has focused on bridging the gap between investments, policy, and markets. His leadership in growing cleantech ecosystems and securing investments gives Jälle a strong foundation for turning laboratory results into global impact. Dr. Ivar Kruusenberg, a co-founder and advisor with extensive experience in deeptech commercialization, adds strategic perspective to the team, drawing on decades of work in scaling research-driven companies. Together, this combination of scientific expertise, entrepreneurial drive, and strategic insight enables Jälle to transform groundbreaking science into industrial solutions.
Most conventional producers of graphene materials rely on freshly mined graphite and resource-intensive chemical processes. Jälle Technologies takes a strategically different approach. By upcycling waste graphite from end-of-life batteries, the company not only reduces dependence on mining but also turns a costly by-product into a valuable resource. This unique process positions Jälle with a strong competitive edge in a rapidly growing global market for advanced materials.
The company’s innovation comes at a critical time. The European Commission’s new Batteries Regulation sets strict targets for recycling efficiency, pushing the industry to find better solutions. While metals like cobalt and nickel are already being recovered at high rates, graphite lags behind. Jälle’s process offers a pathway to close this gap and strengthen Europe’s circular economy.
Looking ahead, Jälle Technologies is scaling its processes to deliver the first industrial samples of graphene material to manufacturers. By 2030, the company envisions operating a full-scale facility in Estonia that can upcycle recyclers’ waste graphite into high-performance materials used worldwide. This development not only positions Estonia as a hub for sustainable innovation but also helps reduce dependence on imported raw materials.
“Graphene is one of the most multifunctional materials of our time, with applications ranging from batteries and electronics to coatings and composites,” explains Dr. Kerli Liivand, CTO of Jälle Technologies. “Through urban mining and extracting value from end-of-life products we’ve found a unique raw material in battery waste. What makes our approach truly different is that we produce graphene from this new resource, rather than from mined graphite. It’s a win for recyclers, a win for manufacturers, and ultimately a win for us all.”
Jälle Technologies stands at the intersection of battery recycling, advanced materials, and sustainability. By turning a costly waste stream into the world’s thinnest and strongest material, the company demonstrates how innovation can solve pressing challenges and create new opportunities for industry and society alike.
