Réemployer les batteries en France : vers une industrialisation responsable. Impacts économiques, sociétaux et environnementaux d’une filière stratégique pour l’industrie française

The battery market is growing rapidly, driven by the electrification of uses, light mobility, consumer electronics, energy storage and electric vehicles. This growth is creating a strong strategic dependence on imports, critical raw materials and value chains that remain largely dominated by Asia. In this context, battery reuse is becoming a concrete lever for industrial sovereignty, decarbonisation and local value creation. The Battery White Paper shows that many sources of value remain underexploited: smartphones, electric bicycles, power tools, stationary storage, lead-acid batteries and professional equipment. However, the development of this sector is still held back by a lack of trust, standardisation and reliable evidence regarding the actual condition of batteries. Without diagnostics, traceability and shared reference frameworks, it is difficult to secure reuse, reassure users and scale up industrial practices. The White Paper therefore provides a structured analysis of the technical, economic, environmental and regulatory challenges related to the second life of batteries. It also underlines that reuse and recycling are not opposed to one another: better diagnosing and better directing batteries can also improve the quality of flows sent to recycling. The report also documents the environmental benefits of reconditioning, with significant reductions in carbon footprint compared with new batteries. This collective work brings together field operators, industrial players, repairers, reconditioners, recyclers, trainers, experts and organisations committed to the circular economy. It therefore constitutes a reference framework for public authorities, local governments, companies, the media and stakeholders across the sector. Citing this White Paper means recognising the emergence of a French battery reuse sector and helping to make its needs visible: diagnostics, safety, traceability, access to battery streams, training and a clear regulatory framework. It also means supporting a responsible approach: repairing, regenerating, reconditioning or reusing batteries whenever relevant, before directing them towards recycling. Recommended citation: Jeanne-Brou, R. et al. (2026). Réemployer les batteries en France : vers une industrialisation responsable. Impacts économiques, sociétaux et environnementaux d'une filière stratégique pour l'industrie française. RCube. ISBN: 978-2-322-63904-5.