20-05-2025
Finland's Fortum & Vianode partner on recycled graphite for EVs
Fortum Battery Recycling and Vianode have signed a Memorandum of Understanding under which the two companies will work together to:
Fortum Battery Recycling and Vianode have signed an MoU to develop recycled graphite for EV batteries. Fortum will supply graphite from its hydrometallurgical plant, while both firms will optimise its use in anode production. The partnership aims to cut carbon emissions, reduce reliance on virgin materials, and support EU goals for sustainable battery value chains. Secure supplies of high-quality recycled graphite concentrate from Fortum's hydrometallurgical plant in Harjavalta, Finland
Develop and optimize recycled graphite materials for use in Vianode's commercial-scale anode production
Evaluate and enhance the performance of recycled graphite in advanced battery components
'Fortum Battery Recycling and Vianode have a shared commitment to a more sustainable and less resource-intensive EV battery industry. By recovering valuable and critical graphite from used batteries and returning it to the cycle as battery-grade material, we help enable the production of new lithium-ion batteries with a significantly lower environmental footprint,' says Tero Holländer at Fortum Battery Recycling.
"Recycling graphite from end-of-life batteries is vital to reduce dependence on virgin raw materials, lower carbon emissions, and build sustainable supply chains. Access to recycled graphite concentrate with potential to scale volumes over time will support Vianode's ambition to deliver high-quality anode materials with an industry-leading CO2 footprint below 1 kilogram CO2e per kilogram of graphite by 2030', says Dr. Stefan Bergold, Chief Commercial Officer of Vianode.
Graphite anode material represents the largest component of lithium-ion batteries by weight, typically around 70 kilograms per EV. The majority of graphite used in EV batteries is synthetic graphite, of which around 90% is currently imported from China. Towards 2030, Europe is expected to see a significant increase in battery recycling as the first generation of EVs reaches the end of their life and new EU legislation requires higher recovery rates and the use of recycled materials in new batteries.
Fortum Battery Recycling operates Europe's largest closed-loop hydrometallurgical battery recycling facility in Harjavalta, Finland. In March 2025, Fortum's Harjavalta facility was recognized by the European Commission as a Strategic Project as part of the implementation of the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA), aiming to ensure European production of raw materials needed for green transition. Note: The headline, insights, and image of this press release may have been refined by the Fibre2Fashion staff; the rest of the content remains unchanged.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (HU)
