The Munich-based battery recycler tozero has begun operations at an industrial demonstration plant for recovering critical raw materials from used batteries. Located at Chemical Park Gendorf, the facility was built in six months, according to the company. The plant is expected to process approximately 1,500 tons of battery material annually and recover more than 100 tons of lithium carbonate, as well as graphite and nickel-cobalt mixtures.
tozero states that it uses an acid-free hydrometallurgical process that enables recovery in a single step. The resulting materials are expected to be pure enough for direct reuse in production. Additionally, tozero claims that its method is more cost-effective than traditional mining.
According to the company, recycled lithium and graphite have already been qualified by battery component manufacturers. The plant serves as the basis for a larger production facility, which is planned for completion by 2030. This plant is expected to process 45,000 tons of battery material annually and supply significantly higher volumes of lithium and graphite.
Significance for Raw Material Supply in Europe
Recycled raw materials are becoming increasingly important in the context of broader policy objectives, such as the EU Critical Raw Materials Act. Currently, Europe is heavily dependent on imports, particularly for lithium and graphite. At the same time, the volume of used batteries is growing due to the rise of electric mobility. Therefore, the company views recycling as a key component in reducing this dependence.
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