en.Wedoany.com Reported - Germany's tozero company in the Gendorf Chemical Park, Bavaria, has recently launched a battery recycling plant. Built within six months, the plant can process over 1,500 tons of battery waste annually. tozero employs a proprietary acid-free hydrometallurgical process to produce high-purity lithium carbonate from the waste, while also recovering graphite and nickel-cobalt mixtures. The purity of the recovered materials allows for direct reuse in manufacturing. This initiative helps reduce battery disposal in landfills, equivalent to preventing the waste of approximately 6,000 electric vehicle batteries.

tozero has demonstrated that its recycled lithium and graphite have qualified for use by battery manufacturers, supporting Europe's efforts towards self-sufficiency in critical raw materials. This aligns with the EU's Critical Raw Materials Act, which sets a target of 25% supply from recycled sources. Initially, the plant will supply recycled materials to the construction, ceramics, and lubricant industries, with plans to expand to more materials and sectors in the future.

Sarah Fleischer, Co-founder and CEO of tozero, stated: "Europe does not yet possess the critical raw materials needed for the energy transition. Our technology makes it possible to recycle old batteries and extract materials on an industrial scale. Within four years, we have progressed from laboratory experiments to industrial operations, proving that recycling can provide Europe with a domestic, circular supply of critical materials." Dr. Ksenija Milicevic Neumann, Co-founder and CTO, added: "Scaling the technology from the lab to industry is a key milestone, and I am proud of it, especially the team's effort."

This industrial demonstration plant lays the foundation for a larger-scale operation planned to commence by 2030, expected to produce thousands of tons of lithium carbonate and graphite. By 2030, global lithium demand could quadruple, and EU graphite demand is expected to grow significantly. However, Europe currently relies on imports, with China controlling the global graphite supply and most lithium sourced from abroad. tozero's battery recycling technology is seen as a crucial way to fill the supply gap, which is projected to exceed 33% globally from 2035 onwards.

Founded in 2022, tozero has grown rapidly. In April 2024, it became the first company in Europe to deliver recycled lithium to commercial customers and has partnered with automakers like BMW on pilot projects, achieving a lithium recovery rate of over 80%, meeting the EU's 2031 target. In February 2025, it qualified 100% recycled graphite for use in battery cell production. The company also collaborates with partners in ten European countries and has received honors such as the World Economic Forum's Technology Pioneer, supporting Europe's competitiveness in the global energy technology race.

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