Small lithium-ion batteries power our phones, wearables, and IoT devices—but their carbon footprint is larger than their size suggests.

The environmental impact¹ of small lithium-ion batteries² spans mining³, production, use, and disposal, affecting ecosystems, resources, and climate.

Let’s explore how these tiny batteries create big environmental consequences, and what we can do to reduce the damage.

What is the impact of raw material extraction?

Every battery starts with mined metals—like lithium, cobalt, and nickel—and those come at a cost.

Lithium and cobalt mining can lead to water depletion⁴, habitat destruction⁵, toxic waste, and human rights violations⁶.

Mining methods and damage

• Lithium⁷: extracted from salt flats (brine) or hard rock
  • Brine method uses huge amounts of water (500,000 gallons per ton)
  • Drains local water tables, harming farming and ecosystems
• Cobalt⁸: 70% comes from the DRC, often with child labor and unsafe methods
  • Causes river contamination, heavy metal runoff, and social conflict
• Nickel⁹: often mined in rainforests or coastal zones, disrupting biodiversity

Metal	Source Country	Environmental Concern
Lithium	Chile, Bolivia, Australia	Water depletion, desertification
Cobalt	DRC	Toxic runoff, poor labor ethics
Nickel	Indonesia, Russia	Rainforest loss, smog emissions

These issues occur long before the battery even reaches the factory.

What is the environmental cost of battery manufacturing?

Producing lithium-ion batteries requires energy-intensive processes—and that energy often comes from fossil fuels.

Manufacturing small batteries contributes to CO₂ emissions, chemical waste, and factory pollution.

Pollution during production

• Heating and drying battery materials (like LiCoO₂¹⁰) consumes lots of electricity
• Solvents and adhesives emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs)¹¹
• Production waste¹² includes metal sludges and chemical byproducts

Even tiny coin cells go through similar processes on a smaller scale. If the factory runs on coal-fired power, the carbon footprint of each battery increases dramatically.

Process Stage	Environmental Output
Electrode coating	VOCs, energy consumption13
Electrolyte filling	Hazardous vapors14
Packaging/sealing	Plastic waste, foil scraps15

Local air and water pollution are common in poorly regulated regions.

Are lithium and cobalt renewable?

No. Lithium, cobalt, and nickel are finite—and we’re using them faster than we can replace them.

Lithium-ion batteries rely on non-renewable materials with limited geographic availability and high geopolitical risk.

Why this matters

• Cobalt is rare and politically concentrated
• Lithium demand is expected to triple by 2030
• Mining expansion is damaging pristine ecosystems

Resource	Estimated Reserves	Years Left (at current rate)
Lithium	~89 million tons	~50–70 years
Cobalt	~7 million tons	<30 years
Nickel	~90 million tons	<40 years

This puts pressure on recycling, substitution, and material innovation.

What happens at the end of a battery’s life?

If not recycled properly, batteries become toxic e-waste.

Small lithium batteries are often thrown away, where they can leak chemicals and catch fire in landfills.

Disposal dangers

• Fire hazard: lithium reacts with moisture and air
• Heavy metals: cobalt and nickel contaminate soil and water
• Recycling rates: under 5% for small lithium batteries

Most consumers don’t know how—or where—to recycle batteries. Meanwhile, recycling technology for tiny cells is inefficient or uneconomical.

Battery Type	Recycling Rate
Smartphone	10–15% (approx.)
Button cell	<5%
Power tool pack	40–60% (B2B only)

Manufacturers and governments must offer better collection and take-back programs.

Do lithium-ion batteries help reduce carbon emissions?

Yes—but only in the use phase—especially when used in electric transport or renewable storage.

When used to store solar or wind energy, or to replace gasoline in EVs, lithium-ion batteries cut overall emissions.

Benefits in use

• Small batteries enable energy-efficient devices
• Batteries in solar kits replace diesel generators
• E-bikes and scooters reduce traffic emissions

Still, these benefits must outweigh the environmental cost of production and disposal to truly be “green.”

Application	Net Carbon Impact
Solar power storage	Positive
Powering wearables	Neutral (if long lifespan)
Single-use toys	Negative (disposable)

That’s why long battery life and reuse matter as much as initial performance.

What can we do to reduce battery impact?

It’s not about avoiding batteries—it’s about designing and using them better.

Longer battery life, safer recycling, greener materials, and supply chain transparency are the path forward.

Action steps

• Use eco-certified suppliers with ISO14001 + RoHS¹⁶
• Design devices for battery replacement, not sealed-in waste
• Educate customers on proper disposal
• Support LFP and solid-state alternatives with lower cobalt
• Invest in recycling infrastructure¹⁷

Goal	Solution
Less resource use	Smaller, more efficient cells
Less toxic waste	Non-cobalt chemistries
Higher recycling rate	Battery take-back programs

I always advise my clients: choose battery suppliers who show transparent ESG data—not just specs.

Conclusion

Small lithium-ion batteries carry a big environmental footprint—from mines to landfills. By making smarter material choices, improving recycling, and building longer-lasting products, we can power our future without poisoning it.