LG Energy Solution and Toyota Tsusho Corporation have formed a joint venture, Green Metals Battery Innovations, LLC, to develop battery recycling infrastructure in the United States.
The venture will establish a pre-processing facility in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, aimed at extracting “black mass” from battery production scrap. This intermediate material contains critical metals such as nickel, cobalt and lithium.
Construction of the plant is slated to be completed ahead of operational start in 2026. Once online, it will process up to 13,500 tons of scrap annually—equivalent to over 40,000 automotive batteries. Initially, LG Energy Solution will supply scrap generated during its EV battery manufacturing for Toyota Motor vehicles. Disassembled and shredded material will undergo pre-processing steps to isolate black mass, which will then be forwarded to a separate post-processing stage for purification and recovery of constituent metals.
The joint venture is designed to support a closed-loop system wherein recovered metals are reintroduced as feedstock for new battery materials, advancing a circular economy within the battery value chain. In addition to securing a stable supply of critical resources, the partners intend to reduce carbon emissions associated with battery production through localized recycling.
“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.”
