Vianode, an advanced battery materials company, signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Fortum Battery Recycling, a specialist in recovering valuable metals from electric vehicle (EV) batteries. The collaboration aims to build a sustainable, circular EV battery value chain by focusing on the recycling and reuse of graphite—one of the most critical and abundant components in lithium-ion batteries.
Driving a Circular Graphite Supply Chain
Under the agreement, both companies will work closely to:
- Secure high-quality recycled graphite concentrate from Fortum’s hydrometallurgical facility in Harjavalta, Finland
- Develop and optimize recycled graphite materials for Vianode’s commercial-scale anode production
- Evaluate the performance of recycled graphite in advanced battery components
The partnership marks a key step toward reducing dependency on virgin materials. It also aims to cut carbon emissions and meet rising demand for responsibly sourced EV battery components.
Reducing CO₂ Footprint with Recycled Graphite
“Recycling graphite from end-of-life batteries is vital to reduce dependence on virgin raw materials, lower carbon emissions, and build sustainable supply chains,” said Dr. Stefan Bergold, Chief Commercial Officer at Vianode. “Access to recycled graphite concentrate—scalable over time—will help us achieve our ambition of delivering anode materials with an industry-leading CO₂ footprint of less than 1 kg CO₂e per kg of graphite by 2030,” Dr. Bergold added.
Graphite anode material makes up the largest share of lithium-ion battery weight, averaging 70 kilograms per EV. By incorporating recycled graphite into its production, Vianode accelerates the shift to low-carbon, high-performance battery solutions.
Advancing Sustainable Battery Manufacturing in Europe
Tero Holländer, Head of Business Line, Batteries, at Fortum Recycling & Waste, said, “Fortum and Vianode are united in building a less resource-intensive EV battery industry. By recovering and reprocessing graphite from used batteries into battery-grade material, we directly enable the creation of new lithium-ion batteries with a much lower environmental impact.”
Vianode recently introduced its first high-performance anode material made from recycled graphite. This reinforces its commitment to developing the world’s most sustainable anode materials. It also supports circular battery ecosystems in North America and Europe.
Preparing for Europe’s EV Recycling Surge
Europe’s first wave of electric vehicles is nearing end-of-life. New EU rules require higher recovery and reuse, driving recycling by 2030. As per the press release, the partnership between Vianode and Fortum supports a broader industry shift. This shift focuses on responsible sourcing, increased recycling, and emissions reduction—key pillars of a sustainable energy future.
