LG Energy Solution and Toyota Tsusho Establish a Battery Recycling Joint Venture in the U.S.
The joint venture, named Green Metals Battery Innovations, is set to build a pre-processing facility in North Carolina aimed at extracting black mass, a crucial component for battery recycling. This facility is expected to process an impressive 13,500 tons of scrap annually, which is equivalent to over 40,000 automotive batteries.
This marks LG Energy Solution’s first battery recycling joint venture in North America, highlighting a strong commitment to fostering a closed-loop system and promoting a circular economy.
On June 19, 2025, in Seoul, LG Energy Solution and Toyota Tsusho Corporation announced the formation of Green Metals Battery Innovations, LLC, a joint venture focused specifically on battery recycling. The agreement was signed between LG Energy Solution Michigan and Toyota Tsusho America, with plans to construct and operate a pre-processing plant in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
The new facility will manage pre-processing operations to extract black mass, which contains valuable raw materials such as nickel, cobalt, and lithium, by dismantling and shredding battery production scrap. Initially, LG Energy Solution will provide scrap generated during the production of electric vehicle (EV) batteries for Toyota Motor. The facility is set to begin operations in 2026, targeting a maximum annual processing capacity of 13,500 tons of scrap.
The extracted black mass will subsequently undergo a separate post-processing stage to recover the raw materials contained within. This joint venture aims to establish a battery-to-battery closed-loop system where these raw materials can be recycled and used for new battery materials, thereby advancing a true circular economy within the battery supply chain.
This partnership between LG Energy Solution and the Toyota Group is focused on reducing carbon emissions through innovative circular economy initiatives. By collaborating with a leading battery recycler that possesses advanced pre-processing technologies and operational expertise, LG Energy Solution aims to create 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,” stated 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,” added 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.”
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