Japanese and European industry groups will ramp up collaboration on battery recycling, the respective sector associations jointly announced today, in a move likely aimed at strengthening their supply chain and reducing dependency on China.
Japanese industry group Battery Association for Supply Chain, as well as the European Battery Alliance and Brussels-based industry association for lithium batteries Recharge signed an initial agreement on 15 September, aiming to strengthen co-operation to improve their battery supply chain.
This includes exchanging information on issues such as data sharing. It also includes conducting joint studies on black mass classification. Black mass refers to the shredded remains of cathode materials such as nickel, cobalt and lithium, which are key components of an intermediate recycling material.
The initial agreement appears to be a strategic attempt to reduce dependency on China, which dominates the global supply of battery materials. "The current battery supply-chain is highly dependent on a specific country", an official from Japan's trade and industry ministry Meti said, in a likely reference to China that dominates the global battery material delivery.
Strengthening cooperation among a like-minded country is highly meaningful, a Meti official said, adding that Japan's advanced recycling technologies combined with the Europe's large battery market could significantly contribute to building a robust supply chain.
The initial agreement followed the July launch of the Japan-EU competitiveness alliance, a broader framework for economic co-operation agreed between Tokyo and Brussels.
