WEEE recycling patents' dataset

The patent dataset analyzed is based on search criteria dealing with WEEE recycling, namely focusing on battery recycling, while a ‘control’ sample is produced where the patent data concern a more generical recycling technical context. Such differentiation is essentially achieved by two different selections from the EPO database Patstat (Spring 2022 ed.), each patent search being based on IPC/CPC classification codes selected from a pool of “green” classification codes. While the dataset regarding the batteries is defined by any of the IPC/CPC H01M6/52 or the IPC/CPC H01M10/54 or the CPC Y02W30/84 individually taken or combined together, documents of the ‘control’ should not be assigned with any of the classification codes defining the batteries recycling. The first step of the patent analysis is focusing on applications including either national authorities or supranational authorities, such as the EPO or the WIPO (both addressed through harmonized filing procedures) to evaluate meaningful trends of patent applications filed starting from yr. 1980 to yr. 2022. Such trends can also be assessed in order to normalize the amount of filing events, i.e. by comparing, for each of the most representative patent authorities, the trend of WEEE specific applications with the trend resulting from the combination of the WEEE applications plus the amount of the applications belonging to the respective control sample, for each trend being the applications filed to the same patent authority. A subsequent step entails assessments based on the EPO definition of simple patent families. Essentially, the same strategy has been adopted for both the ‘WEEE/RAEE’ patent families and the ‘control’. The assessment in each case deals with the analysis of the patent families based on the ranking of IPC and CPC codes, respectively, to highlight those most frequently assigned in the field of batteries recycling. Subsequently, qualitative and quantitative information is provided about the most frequently addressed patent authorities, the most representative players and their affiliation, the patent family dimensions, the forward citations (in terms of number of citing families and national/supranational authorities) for each patent family of the dataset. Eventually a ‘proof of concept’ analytic approach deals with the focusing on the filing strategy of the top players.
The same analytic approach could be used in case other kinds of electronic waste recycling should be of interest, for example not focusing on batteries. To such aim, the CPC Y02W30/82 classification code, initially present in several patent documents included in the ‘control’ sample if focusing on the batteries recycling, should be then omitted from the control dataset and be replaced with the IPC/CPC classification codes specific for the batteries recycling. Therefore, the CPC Y02W30/82 could define a new dataset, namely that one specifically regarding the WEEE (non-batteries) recycling.