LG Energy Solution and Toyota Tsusho Establish a Battery Recycling Joint Venture in NC

LG Energy Solution and Toyota Tsusho Corporation announced on June 19, 2025 the establishment of Green Metals Battery Innovations, LLC, a joint venture dedicated to transforming the EV battery lifecycle. Under an agreement between LG Energy Solution Michigan and Toyota Tsusho America, the companies plan to establish a pre-processing recycling plant in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, to extract black mass — a material containing high-value metals such as nickel, cobalt, and lithium — from battery production scrap.

The facility is scheduled to begin operations in 2026 with a target capacity of 13,500 tons of scrap annually, equivalent to approximately 40,000 automotive batteries. LG Energy Solution will supply the scrap, generated during its EV battery production for Toyota Motor. The recovered black mass will then be sent for further processing to reclaim raw materials for reuse in new battery production, creating a closed-loop system that supports a truly circular economy across the supply chain.

This partnership underscores both companies’ commitment to sustainability, as they work to reduce carbon emissions and environmental impact by extending the lifecycle of battery materials. LG Energy Solution, the world’s largest lithium-ion battery manufacturer, brings three decades of expertise and more than 69,600 patents to the venture. Its global manufacturing footprint and innovation pipeline make it a pioneer in green battery solutions.

“This joint venture will not only help secure a stable supply of key battery materials but also enhance the competitiveness of our recycling business in North America,” said Chang Beom Kang, CSO of LG Energy Solution. “We are fully committed to leading the recycling market through innovative and differentiated technologies.”

“We are proud to partner with LG Energy Solution to advance the battery recycling infrastructure in North America,” said Masaharu Katayama, COO of Toyota Tsusho.“This joint venture is a significant step toward realizing a circular economy for batteries, which is essential for building a sustainable mobility society.”

Toyota Tsusho Corporation, part of the Toyota Group, contributes its extensive experience in automotive logistics, trading, and supply chains. Together, they aim to establish a competitive regional recycling infrastructure that supports Toyota’s sustainability goals and the broader EV ecosystem for years to come.

With this joint venture, LG Energy Solution and Toyota Tsusho demonstrate a bold commitment to circularity — ensuring that EV battery materials remain in use as long as possible and that future mobility will be powered by more sustainable and responsible processes. To learn more, visit LG Energy Solution’s newsroom at https://news.lgensol.com.

Clean Energy Jobs are Vital

The partnership is another example of how clean energy is bringing more jobs and economic growth to the United States. North Carolina had the 9th-largest clean energy workforce for 2023 among all 50 states, boasting 109,788 clean energy jobs in total.

Clean energy jobs are critical to America’s future, powering not only the transition to a sustainable economy but also creating stable, well-paying careers for millions of workers. Across wind, solar, battery storage, electric vehicles, energy efficiency, and grid modernization, clean energy industries drive innovation and growth while reducing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

These jobs pay competitive wages and offer career advancement in diverse sectors—from engineering and construction to advanced manufacturing and operations. Clean energy investments help revitalize local communities, enhance energy security, and position the United States as a global leader in technology and sustainability. By fostering a robust clean energy workforce, America is not only strengthening its economy and reducing its environmental impact but also ensuring a prosperous and resilient future for generations to come.

Battery Recycling: Another Reason BEVs Are the Most Eco-Friendly Transportation

When we talk about sustainability in transportation, battery electric vehicles (BEVs) often take center stage—and for good reason. They produce zero tailpipe emissions, help reduce local air pollution, and contribute to lowering greenhouse gas emissions. But one often-overlooked advantage of BEVs lies in the way their most valuable components, especially critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, and nickel, can be recycled and reused to minimize environmental impact.

Traditional gas-powered cars burn finite fossil fuels, generating emissions that cause climate change, and leave nothing reusable behind. BEV batteries, on the other hand, offer a circular path. Even after they can no longer power a car, their materials retain tremendous value. Innovative recycling processes extract these metals to produce new batteries, greatly reducing the need for mining raw materials. Every ton of minerals recycled means less pressure on ecosystems and a lower carbon footprint per mile driven.

This focus on recycling further enhances the already strong sustainability profile of BEVs. Unlike internal combustion engine cars—which can never reuse burned fuel—BEVs leverage their own components for future generations of clean transportation. That’s why BEVs are the most eco-friendly way to get around today. Their impact will only grow as more recycled materials enter the supply chain, creating a virtuous cycle that supports a truly sustainable future for mobility.

EV Battery Recycling Leaders

The Electric Vehicle battery recycling industry is driven by a diverse set of prominent players who are advancing sustainability and resource recovery across the globe. Companies like GEM Co., Ltd., Eramet, Li-Cycle Corp, Fortum, Umicore, Redwood Materials Inc., Shenzhen Highpower Technology Co., Ltd., ACE Green Recycling, Inc., Stena Metall AB, and ACCUREC-Recycling GmbH are leading the charge with innovations that reduce the environmental impact of spent lithium-ion batteries. These companies focus on processes that enable the reuse of critical raw materials, contributing to the establishment of a circular economy for EV batteries.

Recent collaborations underscore the commitment to industry-wide progress; for example, in December 2024, Glencore and Li-Cycle Holdings Corp. partnered to explore the feasibility of a new lithium-ion battery recovery hub in Portovesme, Italy, which is expected to bolster Europe’s capacity for sustainable battery material recycling.

Elsewhere, regional investments are also advancing these goals. In September 2024, SK Tes inaugurated a new lithium-ion and EV battery recycling facility in the Netherlands. Equipped with state-of-the-art technology, the plant is capable of processing up to 10,000 metric tons of battery materials annually. This strategic move will help Europe meet its increasing demand for battery waste management and raw material recovery, while ensuring that sustainability is integrated into the region’s rapidly expanding EV ecosystem.

Together, these initiatives highlight the vital role of specialized recyclers and strategic partnerships in supporting a more sustainable, circular future for electric mobility, which makes EVs even more eco-friendly. In addition, EVs are the most cost-effective choice for car owners over time.