Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd. received publication of European patent application EP4180135A1 for a method of recovering valuable metals. The patent covers processes for extracting metals from waste materials using techniques classified under IPC codes C22B (non-ferrous metals), B09B (waste disposal), and H01M 10/54 (battery recycling). The designated contracting states include all major EU economies (DE, FR, GB, IT, ES, NL, BE, PL, SE, etc.) plus Switzerland, Norway, and Turkey.

This is a patent publication rather than a regulatory requirement, so no immediate compliance actions are required. Companies operating in battery recycling, e-waste processing, or metal recovery sectors should review the patent claims to assess potential freedom-to-operate implications for their existing or planned recovery processes. Businesses developing similar technologies should conduct patent landscape analyses to identify potential infringement risks.