LG Energy Solution Ltd (LGES) and Toyota Tsusho Corporation have recently announced their collaboration to establish a new battery recycling joint venture in the United States. The joint venture, named Green Metals Battery Innovations LLC, will primarily focus on recycling electric vehicle (EV) batteries, a crucial step towards achieving a sustainable circular economy in the automotive industry.
The agreement between LG Energy Solution Michigan and Toyota Tsusho America outlines the construction and operation of a pre-processing plant in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. This facility is set to commence operations in 2026 and will be responsible for recovering raw materials such as nickel, cobalt, and lithium from black mass obtained by dismantling and shredding battery production scrap. By implementing a “battery-to-battery” closed-loop recycling system, the plant will extract valuable raw materials for the production of new batteries.
Initially, the plant will utilize scrap materials generated by LGES in the manufacturing of EV batteries for Toyota Motor Corporation. With an annual processing capacity of 13,500 tons of scrap, equivalent to over 40,000 EV batteries, the facility aims to contribute significantly to the sustainable production of batteries for electric vehicles.
In a statement, Chang Beom Kang, CSO of LGES, emphasized the importance of the joint venture in securing a stable supply of key battery materials and enhancing the competitiveness of their recycling business in North America. He expressed the company’s commitment to leading the recycling market through innovative technologies. Masaharu Katayama, COO of Toyota Tsusho, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the joint venture as a significant step towards realizing a circular economy for batteries and building a sustainable mobility society.
As the automotive industry continues to prioritize sustainability and environmental responsibility, initiatives like the LGES and Toyota Tsusho joint venture play a vital role in advancing the recycling infrastructure for batteries in North America. By promoting the reuse of raw materials and reducing waste in battery production, this collaboration sets a positive example for the industry and underscores the importance of sustainable practices in the transition to electric vehicles.
In conclusion, the establishment of Green Metals Battery Innovations LLC represents a milestone in the journey towards a greener and more sustainable automotive sector. Through innovative recycling technologies and a commitment to circular economy principles, LG Energy Solution and Toyota Tsusho are paving the way for a more environmentally friendly future for electric vehicles.
