New German battery recycling plant salvages lithium and graphite

Europe’s Battery Recycling Revolution: Tozero Launches Groundbreaking Lithium Recovery Plant in Munich

In a bold leap toward energy independence, German battery recycling pioneer Tozero has officially opened Europe’s first industrial-scale facility dedicated to recovering high-purity lithium, graphite, and nickel-cobalt blends from end-of-life lithium-ion batteries. The new plant, located at the Gendorf chemical park just outside Munich, marks a pivotal moment in Europe’s quest to secure a domestic, circular supply of critical raw materials—without relying on imports from Asia.

Set up in a lightning-fast six months, the Gendorf facility is already operational and capable of processing 1,500 tonnes of battery waste per year. From this waste, it can produce 100 tonnes of high-purity lithium carbonate annually—a figure that Tozero equates to “saving 6,000 electric vehicles’ worth of batteries from landfill.” This is not just recycling; it’s urban mining at industrial scale, turning what was once considered waste into the lifeblood of Europe’s green transition.

The urgency behind this innovation is clear. Europe and the United States are currently massively dependent on imported critical materials, with China controlling the lion’s share of global lithium processing and battery component supply. As the continent races to electrify transport, stabilize its grid, and industrialize its economy, this reliance poses a strategic vulnerability. Tozero’s breakthrough technology offers a compelling alternative: a domestic, closed-loop supply chain that feeds recovered materials directly back into manufacturing—without the need for acid-heavy processes or long, carbon-intensive supply lines.

At the heart of Tozero’s approach is a proprietary, acid-free hydrometallurgy process that the company claims allows battery recycling to happen “in a single, superior cycle.” This means recovered materials are pure enough to re-enter production lines immediately, creating a truly circular European supply chain. The technology, which has been scaled 10,000 times from its lab origins, is now being proven at industrial scale—something the company’s co-founder and CEO, Sarah Fleischer, describes as a game-changer.

“Europe doesn’t yet have the critical raw materials it needs to build and scale its own energy transition and battery industry,” Fleischer said. “Our technology, now scaled 10,000 times, changes this by enabling us to recycle end-of-life batteries and extract these materials at industrial scale for the first time.”

The Gendorf plant is just the beginning. Tozero envisions it as the blueprint for a full-scale commercial facility planned for 2030, which will be capable of processing a staggering 45,000 tonnes of battery waste per year—a 30-fold increase in capacity. This next-generation plant will serve as a cornerstone of Europe’s strategy to localize its battery supply chain and reduce its strategic dependencies.

Founded in 2022 by Fleischer—a serial entrepreneur and mechanical engineer—and Dr. Ksenija Milicevic Neumann, an expert in metallurgy, Tozero has moved at breakneck speed. In under four years, the company has progressed from lab-scale experiments to full industrial operations. It has already completed pilot projects with major automotive players like BMW and works with partners across 10 European countries. The company’s success is a testament to the viability of recycling as a serious industrial solution—not just a niche pilot project.

The broader context is equally compelling. Just last month, R3 Robotics, a Luxembourg-born but Germany-based startup, raised €20 million to scale its automated disassembly of electric vehicles, preserving and recycling valuable materials such as lithium batteries. This wave of innovation signals a growing recognition that the energy transition’s success hinges not just on building new batteries, but on closing the loop on their lifecycle.

Tozero’s technology is also poised to benefit industries beyond automotive. The recovered lithium, graphite, and nickel-cobalt blends can be used in construction, ceramics, lubricants, and more—unlocking new circular economies across sectors. As Fleischer noted, “In just under four years, Tozero has gone from lab-scale experiments to industrial operations and we’re consistently proving that recycling isn’t just a pilot project—it can be delivered at a level capable of giving Europe a homegrown, circular supply of critical materials its future runs on.”

This is more than a technological achievement; it’s a strategic inflection point. With the Gendorf plant now live, Europe has taken a tangible step toward energy sovereignty, industrial resilience, and environmental sustainability. The vision is clear: a future where critical materials are mined not from distant lands, but from the very products that powered yesterday’s innovations.

As the world watches, Tozero’s industrial-scale recycling model could become the blueprint for a new era—one where waste is wealth, and the circular economy is not just an ideal, but a reality powering the next generation of clean technology.

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