Spanish environmental services group Tradebe has acquired Italian battery recycler Spirit, expanding its circular economy activities in Europe. The deal strengthens Tradebe’s position in battery recycling as well as in the recovery of strategic metals such as tungsten and molybdenum, the company said in a statement.
By integrating Spirit, Tradebe aims to incorporate the recycler's technical expertise and innovation into its service portfolio and expand its offering. Tradebe also expects the acquisition to both increasing its presence in the European market and create additional growth opportunities in international circular economy markets.
Spirit srl, founded in 1999, is based in Chimapo in the northern Italian region of Veneto. The company is active in battery sorting and in recycling lithium-ion and Ni-Mh batteries. Other battery chemistries are sent to specialised recycling facilities for treatment.
Tradebe said it plans to expand the company’s capacity and roll out its technologies in other markets. "This acquisition represents a strategic step in our growth," said Iñaki Zaldúa, CEO of Tradebe Environmental Services for Spain, France and Italy.
Tradebe employs around 2,800 people worldwide and operates more than 90 sites. The company reports annual revenue of €800m. In Germany, Tradebe has operated a recycling facility for solvents at the Schwarzheide industrial park in Lusatia since 2024, processing residues from BASF’s production. Of the roughly 19,000 tonnes recovered each year, around 70 per cent are fed back into the chemical group’s production processes.
