LG Energy Solution and Toyota Tsusho Establish a Battery Recycling Joint Venture in the U.S.

• The joint venture company Green Metals Battery Innovations will construct a pre-processing facility in North Carolina to extract black mass, a key material for battery recycling
• The new facility objective is to achieve an annual processing capacity of 13,500 tons of scrap, equivalent to over 40,000 automotive batteries
• LG Energy Solution's first battery recycling JV in North America signifies a strong commitment to collaboration on a closed-loop system and circular economy

SEOUL, South Korea, June 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- LG Energy Solution and Toyota Tsusho Corporation today announced the establishment of Green Metals Battery Innovations, LLC, a joint venture company focused on battery recycling. Under the agreement signed by LG Energy Solution Michigan and Toyota Tsusho America, the two partners decided to construct and operate a pre-processing plant in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

The new plant will handle pre-processing operations to extract black mass which contains valuable raw metals such as nickel, cobalt, and lithium, by dismantling and shredding battery production scrap. In the initial stage of the joint venture's operation, LG Energy Solution will supply scrap generated during the production of EV batteries for Toyota Motor.

The facility is scheduled to commence operations in 2026, with an objective to achieve maximum annual processing capacity of 13,500 tons of scrap — equivalent to over 40,000 automotive batteries.  

The extracted black mass will later undergo a separate post-processing stage to recover raw materials contained within. The joint venture seeks to further establish a battery-to-battery closed-loop system where those raw materials are circulated as recycled resources for new battery materials, advancing a true circular economy in the battery supply chain.

This collaboration between LG Energy Solution and the Toyota Group aims to drive carbon emissions down through circular economy initiatives. By partnering with a leading battery recycler equipped with advanced pre-processing technologies and operational know-how, LG Energy Solution intends to secure a competitive recycling infrastructure in the region.

"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."

About LG Energy Solution

LG Energy Solution (KRX: 373220), a split-off from LG Chem, is a leading global manufacturer of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles, mobility, IT, and energy storage systems. With 30 years of experience in revolutionary battery technology and extensive research and development (R&D), the company is the top battery-related patent holder in the world with over 69,600 patents. Its robust global network, which spans North America, Europe, and Asia, includes battery manufacturing facilities established through joint ventures with major automakers. Committed to building sustainable battery ecosystem, LG Energy Solution aims to achieve carbon neutrality across its value chain by 2050, while embodying the value of shared growth and promoting diverse and inclusive corporate culture. To learn more about LG Energy Solution's ideas and innovations, visit https://news.lgensol.com.

SOURCE LG Energy Solution