Location of facilities and network design for reverse logistics of lithium-ion batteries in Sweden

Abstract

Estimations of the amount of lithium-ion batteries reaching their end-of-life in 2025 and the amount being recycled indicates large deviations. To enable an efficient recycling process a well-defined and efficient supply chain network for the recovery of discarded lithium-ion batteries must be put in place. This includes analyzing the needs and restrictions of such a network. The aim of this paper is to provide decision support tools, to analyze input, and optimize a future supply chain for discarded lithium-ion batteries. A mixed integer programming model is developed and applied to the Swedish market. The findings show that several aspects will affect a reverse supply chain for discarded lithium-ion batteries, many of which are still uncertain and hard to predict.