NavPrakriti, Eastern India’s first large-scale lithium-ion battery recycling and refurbishment company, has announced an ambitious plan to partner with over 150 battery companies and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in the next three years. Through this, the company will create an extensive network for collecting, recycling, and refurbishing spent batteries, leveraging advanced technology and strategic industry collaborations to ensure safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible battery management across the value chain. This strategic move positions the Kolkata-headquartered company at the forefront of India’s efforts to build a robust, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)-driven battery-recycling network, critical to the country’s clean energy and decarbonisation goals. Recently, NavPrakriti has also started the operation of Eastern India’s first advanced lithium-ion battery recycling facility.
According to industry projections, the country’s demand for lithium batteries is set to soar from just 4 gigawatt-hours (GWh) in 2023 to a staggering 139 GWh by 2035. The surge isn’t limited to EVs; India’s expanding renewable energy sector is also fuelling demand for lithium batteries, with battery energy storage systems (BESS) being rapidly deployed to help achieve the country’s Net Zero target by 2070. While this growth is a positive sign for India’s green economy, it demands proper disposal of lithium-ion batteries. As per the estimates, lithium-ion batteries alone accounted for 700,000 tonnes of the 1.6 million metric tonnes of e-waste generated in India in 2022. Despite being the world’s third-largest producer of e-waste, only about 40 per cent of this waste was recycled last year, underscoring the urgent need for a scalable, sustainable recycling framework.
In response, the government introduced the Battery Waste Management Rules (BWMR) in 2022, placing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) at the heart of its battery waste strategy. Under EPR, producers are required to fund and ensure the collection and recycling of batteries through certified recyclers. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has further strengthened the system with a digital EPR portal, which tracks the journey of e-waste from production to disposal, links manufacturers with registered recyclers, and provides financial incentives through EPR credits. The EPR framework also mandates a minimum “floor price” for recyclers, ensuring they are adequately compensated for investments in infrastructure, technology, and labour.
Akhilesh Bagaria, Founder, NavPrakriti, said, “Our aim is to set a new benchmark for responsible battery recycling in India, fully aligned with the government’s vision for a circular and self-reliant economy. By partnering with battery manufacturers and OEMs nationwide, we’re not just managing waste, we’re helping to close the loop on critical raw materials, boost India’s clean energy ambitions, and accelerate the country’s EPR journey.”
The company’s strategy aligns closely with the Government of India’s National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) and the Battery Waste Management Rules 2022, viewing battery recycling as a new form of resource regeneration and a “mining frontier” for India’s green future. With stricter hazardous waste and EPR regulations set to take effect in 2026, NavPrakriti’s investment in advanced tracking, compliance, and reporting systems ensures the company is ready to lead in this new regulatory landscape. The company’s nationwide collaboration model could set a benchmark for EPR-led sustainability, helping India transform its battery waste challenge into a catalyst for innovation and growth.
Founded in 2024 and based in Kolkata, NavPrakriti is driven by a vision to help India transition to a circular and self-reliant battery economy, offering comprehensive solutions that cover everything from battery collection and advanced recycling to refining and manufacturing second-life batteries. Currently, NavPrakriti’s facility can handle up to 1,000 tonnes of used batteries each month, a capacity that can be doubled as demand rises. The company is already recycling batteries from a range of sources, including consumer electronics, telecom networks, and industrial operations.
NavPrakriti’s plant focuses on the recovery of aluminium and copper, with intermediary products rich in nickel, cobalt, manganese, and lithium. The company is laying the groundwork for future hydrometallurgical refining and has plans to expand into battery-grade chemical recovery and battery refurbishment, enabling “second life” applications for residential and industrial use. Its mission: to transform end-of-life batteries into raw materials for the next generation of cells, making India self-reliant in critical battery materials.
About NavPrakriti:
NavPrakriti Green Energies Pvt Ltd, established in 2024 and headquartered in Kolkata, is Eastern India’s first large-scale lithium-ion battery recycling and refurbishment company. With a vision to pioneer India’s transition to a circular and self-reliant battery ecosystem, NavPrakriti delivers end-to-end solutions spanning collection, recycling, refining, and second-life battery manufacturing. The company’s mission is to transform end-of-life batteries into raw materials for the next generation of cells, making India self-reliant in critical battery materials. NavPrakriti aligns its operations with the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) and Battery Waste Management Rules 2022, viewing battery recycling as resource regeneration and a new mining frontier for India. The company employs a multidisciplinary team of 50+ engineers, chemists, and business professionals, supported by industry veterans and academic advisors.
