Sortbat Group takes full control of Sortbat Norway, exits recycler ownership
What's the deal? Belgium's Sortbat GroupDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → has acquired the remaining 20% stake in Sortbat NorwayDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → from BatteriRetur, becoming the sole owner. The move makes Sortbat Norway fully independent from Producer Responsibility Organisations (PRO) and recyclers.
What do they do? Sortbat Norway specialises in battery precycling — the safe handling, incident response, second-life assessment, and preparation of large-format batteries for reuse or recycling. It serves electric mobility, maritime operations, and stationary energy storage.
Why now? Europe is bracing for a surge in end-of-life battery volumes as the first large generation of electric vehicles ages out, alongside tighter rules on battery handling, traceability, and recycling.
What's the endgame? Full ownership lets Sortbat Norway operate independently across the value chain, giving customers freedom to pick their own recycling partner. The deal also supports Sortbat Group's push to expand across the Nordic market, strengthening cooperation between Norway and Sweden.
"Full ownership strengthens Sortbat Norway's ability to work independently across the market while consolidating the technical expertise we've built over the past decade," said Daniel Chéret, chief executive officer of Sortbat Group.
What changes for BatteriRetur? The former shareholder and Sortbat Norway will keep working together within the Norwegian battery ecosystem, maintaining close dialogue on safe and compliant battery handling.
Øystein Kjæreng, chief executive officer of Sortbat Norway, said the company's role includes emergency incident response for high-voltage batteries, supporting authorities, insurers, and operators with "on-site assessment, stabilisation and safe handling of damaged batteries."
The signal: As EV batteries reach end-of-life at scale, independent precycling — untied to any single recycler or compliance body — is emerging as a distinct link in Europe's battery value chain, sitting between disposal and a more circular economy.
Read more: Auto Recycling World
