ZeroTozer partnership forms with JGC Japan
In a strategic move to expand lithium-ion battery recycling operations in Japan, Tozero and JGC Japan Corporation have formed a partnership [1]. The collaboration aims to support the global expansion of battery recycling, leveraging JGC Japan's engineering expertise and Tozero's innovative recycling processes.
The partnership includes establishing a commercial demonstration plant to validate and showcase their recycling technology's industrial viability. Tozero is already building a commercial demonstration plant in Gendorf, Germany, indicating a parallel effort in Europe to ramp up recycled lithium production capacity [1]. Although the exact timeline for the first commercial demonstration plant in Japan has not been explicitly stated, the partnership agreement was announced in July 2025, suggesting development phases are underway and a plant could be expected in the near term, likely within one to two years, following typical industrial project timelines.
Key aspects:
- Strategic partnership: Tozero signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with JGC Japan in July 2025 to jointly develop lithium-ion battery recycling operations in Japan [1].
- Plans: They aim to scale up lithium recycling technology and develop commercial demonstration plants, building on Tozero’s existing initiatives in Germany [1].
- Timeline: With the partnership recent as of July 2025, the rollout of the first commercial demonstration plant in Japan is anticipated soon but no precise date has been disclosed; inference suggests within 1-2 years post-MoU, aligned with their concurrent European expansion [1].
The partners aim to establish a waste-free process for the recovery of lithium and graphite, regardless of the battery type. This waste-free process is expected to help Tozero realize its vision of zero waste from lithium-ion batteries, supported by JGC Japan's global reach and deep technical expertise [1].
Japan's electric car industry is still in its early stages compared to other regions, but its potential is considered significant. The collaboration between Tozero and JGC Japan is entering a market with high strategic ambitions, supported by strong government investment and international industry players [1]. Battery recycling is gaining importance in Japan, with new facilities being built to recover valuable raw materials and strengthen supply chain security.
By 2027, the German plant is expected to achieve annual production of over 2,000 tonnes of recycled graphite [1]. The collaboration between Tozero and JGC Japan is a significant step toward global expansion in lithium-ion battery recycling technology deployment.
If you need more precise updates, monitoring announcements from Tozero and JGC Japan in the coming months is advisable as the project progresses.
[1] Tozero and JGC Japan Corporation press release, July 2025.
- Given Japan's ambitious electric car industry goals and the increasing importance of battery recycling in the country, Tozero and JGC Japan's partnership aims to establish a commercial demonstration plant for lithium-ion battery recycling, leveraging their combined expertise in technology and finance to recover valuable raw materials and reinforce supply chain security.
- The strategic collaboration between Tozero and JGC Japan, with Tozero's groundbreaking recycling processes and JGC Japan's engineering prowess, aims to develop a waste-free process for the recovery of lithium and graphite, aligning with Tozero's vision of zero waste from lithium-ion batteries and contributing to the global energy sector by promoting sustainability and technology advancement.
