- Japan advances closed-loop aluminium recycling for EV batteries
- Toyota-Panasonic venture enhances aluminium recycling ecosystem
Japan’s Prime Planet Energy & Solutions (PPES), a battery joint venture between Toyota and Panasonic, has partnered with Nippon Light Metal, Fuji Springs, and Panasonic Operational Excellence to establish a closed-loop aluminium recycling system for EV battery production.
The initiative will recycle aluminium scrap generated during the manufacturing of battery cell sealing boards into new aluminium material for EV battery components. The partners aim to reuse around 200 t/yr of aluminium ingots through the programme, improving raw material security, lowering procurement costs, and reducing carbon emissions associated with aluminium production.
The move comes as Japan strengthens efforts to secure critical raw materials amid growing demand for EVs and renewable energy storage systems. With concerns over supply chain risks, particularly dependence on China, Japanese companies are increasingly investing in recycling technologies and strategic partnerships to build a more sustainable and resilient battery supply chain.
Recent initiatives include Sumitomo’s plans to process used lithium-ion batteries from Australia and New Zealand into black mass, while the Battery Association for Supply Chain (BASC) signed a cooperation agreement with the European Battery Alliance and Recharge in 2025 to advance battery recycling collaboration.
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