Image: LG Energy Solution
On June 19, LG Energy Solution and Toyota Tsusho Corporation announced the formation of a joint venture company, Green Metals Battery Innovations, LLC, focused on battery recycling.
They will construct and operate a battery recycling pre-processing plant in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The facility's primary function will be to handle pre-processing operations, including dismantling and shredding battery production scrap, to extract black mass. This valuable material contains critical raw metals like nickel, cobalt, and lithium.
Initially, LG Energy Solution will supply the joint venture with scrap generated during its production of electric vehicle (EV) batteries for Toyota Motor. This ensures a dedicated input stream for the new operation.
The plant is scheduled to commence operations in 2026. Upon reaching full capacity, it aims to process a maximum of 13,500 tons of battery scrap annually – equivalent to the material from more than 40,000 automotive batteries.
"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."
