Liova (France) | Upcycling solution that repurposes used phone batteries

Could the solution to battery waste be hiding in the drawers of our own homes?

Disposing of them is a hassle, and even safe disposal can lead to environmental damage. Solving this issue has been a challenge that many of the brightest minds have not been able to overcome, until now. Simon Cénet and Evan Dessables, of Vitré, France, had always been tinkerers at heart, so when they were assigned a project at Joliot-Curie High School in which they had to build a prototype related to their technological and eco-design specialty, they saw an external battery pack made of used batteries as a no-brainer. They wanted to contribute to a circular economy for two reasons: to get full use of the batteries they had on hand, and to protect the environment.

This desire led to a new solution called Liova, which won the European final of Samsung Solve for Tomorrow in Milan and now, through a partnership with tech refurbishment company Phoner, offers an external power bank for €20. The battery pack has resonated, as well, earning Simon and Evan the honor of being appointed Solve for Tomorrow Global Ambassadors.

A Simple Idea Quickly Becomes Real-World Power

The prototype came together more quickly than anticipated. With only basic materials, a 3D printer and a soldering machine, Simon and Evan discovered that turning old smartphone batteries into new power banks was not only feasible but surprisingly accessible. The design required just a recovered battery, simple wiring and a bidirectional charging module, which allowed the team to demonstrate just how practical upcycling can be, even with limited resources. Their Solve for Tomorrow presentation outlined the assembly in clear, visual steps, emphasizing how sustainability can be both approachable and engaging.

Their idea gained momentum when they partnered with Phoner, which is based in Vitré and specializes in repairing devices. Phoner now supplies the students with used batteries and is considering commercializing the Liova power banks in its stores. The projected price point of around €20 would be deliberately low, so that the product could be accessible to students, families, and everyday smartphone users. Because the batteries themselves are reused, the cost comes mainly from labor, with materials for assembly amounting to just a few euros.

Solve for Tomorrow Transforms Liova Into Global Vision

Samsung's Solve for Tomorrow program played a pivotal role in shaping the future of Liova. When the students first heard about the competition, they didn’t fully realize its scale. They simply entered because they wanted to push their idea as far as it could go. Then, as they advanced through the stages, first locally, then nationally, then to the European final, they found themselves developing their skills and confidence along with the project.

The competition required them to refine their messaging, present to professional audiences and learn to articulate the wider social and environmental implications of their solution. Their dedication and clarity impressed judges, who valued the technical strength of the prototype and the broader significance of extending the life of electronic components. The students’ written submissions emphasized that tackling e-waste on a local scale contributes to major global priorities, from reducing resource extraction to strengthening repair culture and minimizing landfill impact.

A Practical Circular Solution With Real Implications

What makes Liova especially compelling is that it was never intended to exist merely as a one-off student project. From the very beginning, the pair imagined Liova as a model for circular manufacturing rooted in community participation. Their research found that France alone has more than 100 million unused smartphones stored away in drawers, while roughly 95% of lithium-ion batteries are never recycled. That immense untapped resource became the foundation for their mission: instead of relying solely on industrial recycling systems, they would empower local repair technicians to transform these unused batteries into affordable, functional power banks. The infrastructure for scaling Liova in this way is already in place, too, with more than 5,000 certified repair technicians already operating in France.

For Simon and Evan, the impact of their journey extends far beyond the product they built. They gained technical experience, communication skills, and a deeper understanding of how they can contribute to the world. On an emotional level, the experience filled them with joy and self-belief because a simple idea has grown into a solution with the potential to build repair culture, reduce e-waste and inspire communities to rethink sustainability. Above all, it shows how innovation, when paired with purpose, can begin anywhere: like in a high school classroom, with a pile of discarded batteries in the hands of two teenagers determined to make a difference.

“It’s wonderful to see that with enough ambition, you can go this far, even in high school,” Simon and Evan say about their experience with Solve for Tomorrow. To other high school students like them with potentially world-changing ideas, they offer simple advice: “Go all out. It can take you far.”

Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Ambassadors will be officially appointed at a ceremony held in Milan on Feb. 10-11, in conjunction with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Find out more about Solve for Tomorrow at [link].