In the wake of the energy transition, raw materials for battery production are more in demand than ever. Lithium in particular is used in a wide variety of applications for current cell chemistries and will be a critical raw material in the coming years as demand continues to rise. Global raw material availability currently depends on a small number of companies and countries. Extraction from brines and rocks, the technological challenges, and relevant process steps are also recurring topics in debates on the ecological acceptability of using lithium in battery cells. For these reasons, the white paper provides a detailed insight into the occurrence, extraction, and ecological impact of lithium and also assesses the role of recycling as a prospect for a European circular economy.