Vianode, a specialist in advanced battery materials, and Fortum Battery Recycling have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to jointly develop a sustainable, scalable value chain for electric vehicle (EV) battery materials, focusing on recycled graphite for anode production.
The collaboration aims to optimise recycled graphite to meet the stringent performance requirements of next-generation lithium-ion batteries. Vianode plans to integrate the recycled graphite into its commercial-scale production lines, targeting growing demand from European and North American battery cell manufacturers. The company recently launched its first recycled battery-grade graphite product and has set an ambitious target to produce anode materials with a carbon footprint below 1 kg CO₂e per kg of graphite by 2030.
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Dr. Stefan Bergold, Vianode’s Chief Commercial Officer, highlighted the importance of securing consistent volumes of recycled graphite to reduce emissions and improve supply chain resilience. The partnership leverages Fortum’s hydrometallurgical recycling plant in Harjavalta, Finland, which will provide recycled graphite concentrate for Vianode’s refinement process.
Graphite, which accounts for approximately 70 kg by weight per EV battery, remains the largest single material component in lithium-ion batteries, making sustainable sourcing critical as electrification accelerates across Europe. Fortum’s recycling operations focus on closing the materials loop, recovering key elements such as graphite, nickel, cobalt, and lithium. These efforts align with increasingly stringent European Union regulations requiring higher recycling efficiencies and recycled content in new batteries.
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“As the EV market matures, we are rapidly approaching the first wave of battery end-of-life volumes in Europe,” said Tero Holländer, Head of Fortum’s Battery business. “This partnership demonstrates how recovered graphite can re-enter the value chain as a high-quality input, supporting both environmental and industrial policy goals.”
The alliance between Vianode and Fortum represents a crucial step in developing low-carbon, circular supply chains for critical battery materials, reinforcing Europe’s push toward sustainable and secure EV battery production.