Aurubis and Talga Partner to Pioneer Sustainable Graphite Recycling for European Battery Industry

Aurubis and Talga Partner to Pioneer Sustainable Graphite Recycling for European Battery Industry

(IN BRIEF) Aurubis AG and Talga Group Ltd have partnered to develop a new process for producing recycled battery-grade graphite. The collaboration combines Aurubis’ advanced recycling methods and Talga’s innovative anode production technologies to create a sustainable, circular solution for graphite. This initiative aims to reduce CO2 emissions, increase production efficiency, and establish a European supply chain for critical battery materials. The project aligns with the EU’s goals to increase the use of recycled raw materials in battery production by 2030.

(PRESS RELEASE) HAMBURG, 11-Sep-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — In a groundbreaking collaboration, Aurubis AG, a leading multimetal recycler, and Australian battery materials company Talga Group Ltd have joined forces to develop a cutting-edge process to produce battery-grade recycled graphite. This partnership aims to significantly reduce carbon emissions and build a more sustainable and independent European supply chain for crucial battery components.

The collaboration leverages Aurubis’ patented lithium-first recycling process, which efficiently recovers high-quality graphite from lithium-ion batteries, alongside Talga’s innovative graphite purification and anode production technologies. Together, the companies aim to finalize a commercial solution by 2025, which will cater to the growing demand for recycled graphite anodes in the European battery market.

Aurubis’ recycling process can extract graphite with a purity exceeding 90%, a key material for battery production, while Talga will refine it into anode-ready material using their proprietary technologies. This project is a response to the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act, which aims to increase the use of recycled materials, like graphite, in battery production by 2030.

Aurubis COO Multimetal Recycling, Inge Hofkens, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, “This collaboration enables us to develop a circular solution for graphite, reducing CO2 emissions and increasing Europe’s independence from foreign graphite supply chains.”

Talga CEO Martin Phillips added, “This partnership with Aurubis aligns with our mission to produce the world’s most sustainable battery materials, driving innovation in battery recycling.”

The initiative underscores the importance of developing sustainable battery production solutions in Europe, especially as demand for batteries and raw materials continues to grow.

Aurubis — Metals for Progress
Aurubis AG is a leading global provider of non-ferrous metals and one of the largest copper recyclers worldwide. The company processes complex metal concentrates, scrap metals, organic and inorganic metal-bearing recycling materials, and industrial residues into metals
of the highest quality. Aurubis produces more than 1 million tons of copper cathodes annually, and from them a variety of products such as wire rod, continuous cast shapes, profiles, and flat rolled products made of copper and copper alloys. Aurubis produces a number of other metals as well, including precious metals, selenium, lead, nickel, tin and zinc. The portfolio also includes additional products such as sulfuric acid and iron silicate.

Sustainability is a fundamental part of the Aurubis strategy. “Aurubis responsibly transforms raw materials into value” — following this maxim, the company integrates sustainable conduct and business activities into the corporate culture. This involves a careful approach
to natural resources, responsible social and ecological conduct in everyday business, and sensible, healthy growth.

Aurubis has around 6,900 employees, production sites in Europe and the US, and an extensive distribution network around the world.

Aurubis shares are part of the Prime Standard Segment of the German Stock Exchange and are listed in the MDAX, the Global Challenges Index (GCX), and the STOXX Europe 600.

More information at www.aurubis.com

Media Contacts:

Aurubis AG:
Corporate Communications

Angela Seidler
Vice President
Investor Relations &
Corporate Communications
Phone +49 40 7883-3178
a.seidler@aurubis.com

Christoph Tesch
Head of Corporate
Communications
Phone +49 40 7883-2178
c.tesch@aurubis.com

Meino Hauschildt
Senior Communications
Manager
Phone +49 40 7883-3037
me.hauschildt@aurubis.com

SOURCE: Aurubis AG