On American soil, Toyota and leading recycling specialist Redwood Supplies have launched a pioneering initiative to streamline the complex global supply chain of battery materials, bringing the industry one step closer to a circular economy for batteries.
Toyota has partnered with Redwood Supplies, a US-based leader in recycling, refining, and remanufacturing used battery materials, to secure cathode materials and anode copper foil for its electric vehicle (EV) range. The dominant cost components of lithium-ion cells are represented by these elements, which are exclusively procured from foreign sources. Toyota’s forthcoming $13.9 billion manufacturing facility in North Carolina, set to begin production in 2025, will pioneer the utilization of these innovative supplies.
Toyota takes a pioneering role in promoting EV sustainability by being one of the earliest adopters of recycling hybrid electric batteries, such as those used in the Toyota Prius, and then reusing these recycled materials to manufacture batteries for its all-electric vehicles.
The landmark agreement solidifies the strong and enduring partnership between the two entities, which was first established in 2022. Beneath this agreement, Redwood Supplies refurbished Toyota’s hybrid and electric vehicles, or if that wasn’t feasible, extracted critical materials such as copper, nickel, and lithium, recycling them into components that could be repurposed by Toyota for reuse in manufacturing cellular devices.
Redwood Supplies, a venture founded by Tesla co-founder JB Straubel, aims to pioneer the domestic production of the two essential components that comprise lithium-ion batteries: high-performance cathode active materials and ultra-thin anode copper foils, marking a significant milestone in the US. Cathode materials are comprised of recycled lithium, nickel, and cobalt, while anode foils consist of recycled copper.
Redwood is prioritizing eco-friendliness for Toyota’s merchandise by utilizing a minimum of 20% recycled nickel, 20% recycled lithium and 50% recycled cobalt in its cathode materials, alongside 100% recycled copper within the anode copper foil, thereby making them arguably the most sustainable battery supplies available globally.
Redwood is expanding its footprint in Nevada by building out its existing facility, while also announcing plans to swiftly construct a second battery supply facility in South Carolina. Redwood’s campuses will recycle, refine and manufacture battery supplies, striving to scale production to 100 gigawatt-hours annually. In September, the corporation announced its expansion into Europe, acquiring Germany-based Redux Recycling, the leading lithium-ion battery recycler in the EU, effective as of then.
