LG Energy Solution and Toyota Tsusho Corporation have announced the formation of Green Metals Battery Innovations, LLC, a new joint venture aimed at expanding electric vehicle (EV) battery recycling in North America. The venture will construct a pre-processing plant in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, with operations set to begin in 2026.
The facility will focus on extracting black mass—a material rich in nickel, cobalt, and lithium—by dismantling and shredding EV battery production scrap. Initially, LG Energy Solution will supply battery scrap generated during EV battery production for Toyota Motor.
The plant is expected to process up to 13,500 tons of battery scrap annually, equivalent to more than 40,000 automotive batteries. The black mass extracted will undergo further post-processing to recover raw materials, which will then be reused to manufacture new batteries—advancing the development of a closed-loop, battery-to-battery recycling system.
“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, Chief Strategy Officer at LG Energy Solution. “We are fully committed to leading the recycling market through innovative and differentiated technologies.”
Masaharu Katayama, COO of Toyota Tsusho America, added, “This joint venture is a significant step toward realizing a circular economy for batteries, which is essential for building a sustainable mobility society.”
By leveraging advanced pre-processing technologies and local infrastructure, the collaboration aims to reduce carbon emissions, strengthen domestic recycling capabilities, and support the growing demand for EVs through a more sustainable battery supply chain.
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