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Shaping the Future of Electric Vehicle Battery Recycling: A Social Media Analysis of Stakeholder Reactions to EU Battery Management Policy

Lookup NU author(s): Jiaqi Luo, Professor Ying YangORCiD, Dr Yan JiangORCiD

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).


Abstract

The rapid expansion of global electric vehicle production has resulted in a growing volume of end-of-life batteries, generating significant environmental and economic challenges and creating an urgent demand for effective recycling solutions. Although the technical processes and impacts of battery recycling are well studied, less is known about how policies - key drivers of recycling initiatives, shape interactions among stakeholders across the value chain. This study applies signaling theory to investigate the role of policy in influencing electric vehicle battery recycling. Focusing on the European Union’s Regulation Concerning Batteries and Waste Batteries (EU) 2023/1542, we analyze 3,186 posts from Sina Weibo, China’s largest social media platform, to assess stakeholder responses. The analysis identifies four major themes: supply chain, technology, battery passports, and information management, and reveals stakeholders generally expressed positive sentiments toward regulatory progress, industry growth, and market opportunities, while raising concerns about export restrictions, environmental sustainability, and economic pressures. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of policy-driven transitions in battery recycling and offer strategic insights for policymakers and industry leaders aiming to strengthen battery management frameworks and promote a sustainable recycling ecosystem.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Luo J, Yang Y, Jiang Y

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: International Journal of Production Research

Year: 2026

Pages: epub ahead of print

Online publication date: 31/03/2026

Acceptance date: 09/03/2026

Date deposited: 11/03/2026

ISSN (print): 0020-7543

ISSN (electronic): 1366-588X

Publisher: Taylor & Francis

URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2026.2647004

DOI: 10.1080/00207543.2026.2647004

ePrints DOI: 10.57711/e3j6-1d90

Data Access Statement: The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, Yan Jiang, upon reasonable request.


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