Zero terminates partnership with JGC Japan
In a significant move towards sustainable battery lifecycle management, Tozero and JGC Japan have announced a strategic partnership to establish battery recycling operations in Japan [1]. The collaboration, marked by a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in July 2025, aims to scale up lithium-ion battery recycling technology in the country.
The partnership's key aspects include setting up recycling operations in Japan, where Tozero's innovative lithium recovery process will be deployed and developed. By combining this technology with JGC Japan's engineering and project execution capabilities, the partners aim to accelerate commercial recycling capacity [1].
Tozero, led by CEO and co-founder Sarah Fleischer, has already made strides in Europe, raising funds to increase recycled lithium production and launching a commercial demonstration plant and pilot battery recycling operations [1]. By 2027, the German plant is expected to produce over 2,000 tons of recycled graphite and more than 1,500 tons of recycled lithium annually.
JGC Japan Corporation, with its global reach and deep technical know-how, is well-positioned to support Tozero's global scale-up. The company complements this expertise with decades of experience in engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) of large-scale industrial projects. The long-term goal of the partnership is a global expansion of activities [1].
The Japanese electric vehicle industry, though still in its early stages compared to other regions, is considered to have significant potential. Tozero contributes its proprietary technology for the sustainable recovery of critical raw materials such as lithium and graphite. The goal of the partnership is to establish a waste-free process for recovering lithium and graphite, independent of battery type [1].
The partnership follows the trend of increasing importance placed on battery recycling in Japan. New facilities are being built to recover valuable raw materials from batteries and strengthen supply chain security. Japan's lithium-ion battery sector is supported by strong government investments and international industry players, making it a forward-looking industry [1].
With the Tozero-JGC Japan partnership, Japan is set to take a significant step towards a circular economy, contributing to more sustainable battery lifecycle management. The first commercial demonstration plant for Tozero's battery recycling technology is currently being built in Germany. The collaboration is poised to bring battery waste to zero and secure Japan's supply chain for critical battery materials.
[1] Source: Tozero Press Release, July 2025.
The strategic partnership between Tozero and JGC Japan, established in July 2025, incorporates Tozero's innovative lithium recovery process and JGC Japan's engineering capabilities, aiming to accelerate the commercial recycling of lithium and environmental-science advancements in Japan. With the implementation of this technology, the partners aim to contribute to the science sector by establishing a waste-free process for the recovery of critical raw materials such as lithium and graphite, thereby promoting technology innovation in battery recycling.
