Norwegian battery materials specialist Vianode and Italian battery manufacturer FAAM have demonstrated a process for recycling graphite recovered from battery production waste into new high-performance anode material. The companies now plan to scale the process for industrial applications.
As part of a joint development programme, Vianode processed graphite concentrate recovered from anode production waste generated at FAAM into new battery material. According to Vianode, subsequent testing showed that the recycled product delivered electrochemical performance comparable to virgin graphite materials.
Recycling Graphite From Battery Production
Vianode contributed its manufacturing technology for synthetic graphite to the project, while FAAM provided expertise in battery production.
The companies said the demonstration addresses a major challenge for battery circularity: recovering and reusing graphite while maintaining the purity, consistency and performance required for lithium-ion battery applications.
The partners now intend to build on the results by scaling the recycling process for industrial use and further integrating recycled graphite into battery production.
According to the companies, the longer-term objective is to establish a circular process that improves resource efficiency, reduces production waste and strengthens regional battery supply chains.
Graphite Remains a Recycling Challenge
Battery recycling infrastructure for materials such as nickel, cobalt and copper has continued to develop, while recovering battery-grade graphite remains more complex.
Vianode said stringent requirements for material purity and battery performance have limited large-scale recovery and reuse of graphite. The company’s demonstration with FAAM is intended to show a pathway for returning production scrap to the battery materials supply chain.
“This collaboration demonstrates that graphite recycling can be both high-performing and scalable,” said Stefan Bergold, CCO at Vianode.
“By leveraging our proprietary graphite technology, we can return production scrap directly back into the battery value chain without compromising quality. It also demonstrates the importance of European companies joining forces to strengthen regional supply chains and accelerate the transition to a more sustainable battery industry.”
Vianode also plans to work with German battery recycling company Cylib as part of its broader efforts in graphite recycling.
FAAM Sees Path Toward Industrial Scale
FAAM CEO Andrea Civitillo said the results demonstrate that graphite circularity can move beyond a theoretical objective toward industrial application.
“This achievement confirms that circularity for graphite is no longer a theoretical objective, but a concrete and scalable industrial reality,” said Andrea Civitillo, CEO at FAAM.
“By combining our manufacturing expertise with Vianode’s advanced materials technology, we are demonstrating that production scrap can be reintegrated into the process without compromising performance.”
The companies’ next step will be to scale the demonstrated recycling approach and evaluate further integration of recycled graphite into battery manufacturing.
