UK-based battery recycling specialist Altilium has signed a letter of intent with Australian battery materials company Talga Group to supply up to 16,000 metric tons of recycled graphite over a three-year period starting in 2026. The partnership supports Talga’s development of anode products using recycled graphite for its planned refinery in Sweden.
Altilium will initially provide 2,000 metric tons of recycled graphite in 2025 to support pre-commercial customer sample production for Talga’s Talnode-C Recycled Series. The material will be sourced from end-of-life batteries, a key initiative as graphite constitutes 25-30% of lithium-ion batteries and is classified as a critical raw material. Altilium states that its recovery process achieves a 99% graphite yield while reducing carbon emissions by 77% compared to conventional production in China.
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“Access to recycled graphite feedstock supports the expansion and diversification of Talga’s anode business,” said Talga Group CEO Martin Phillips. “This development also showcases our innovative process technology and complements the ongoing execution of our flagship natural graphite anode project.”
Graphite recycling has gained attention amid efforts to reduce reliance on China, which dominates both mined and synthetic graphite production. Companies such as UP Catalyst in Estonia are exploring alternatives, including carbon sourced from industrial CO2 emissions. Meanwhile, Germany’s Tozero has also recently announced advancements in graphite recycling.
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The collaboration between Altilium and Talga aligns with EU sustainability initiatives, including the Critical Raw Materials Act, which targets 25% of the bloc’s strategic raw materials coming from recycled sources by 2030. “Partnering with Talga aligns with our mission to create a fully circular supply chain for anode materials,” said Altilium COO Dr. Christian Marson, noting that the initiative supports a localized, sustainable supply chain.
Altilium, backed by Japan’s Marubeni Corporation and SQM Lithium Ventures, recycles batteries from major UK automakers and Gigafactory waste at its sites in Tavistock and Plymouth. The company is also working with the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC) and plans to open a major battery recycling facility in Teesside, aiming to process 150,000 EV batteries per year.
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Talga, headquartered in Perth, Australia, is developing Europe’s first natural graphite anode refinery in Sweden. The company is also conducting a commercial study, funded by Innovate UK, on using recycled graphite from black mass recyclers for lithium-ion battery anode production.