Fortum Battery Recycling and Vianode have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate on recycling graphite from used electric vehicle batteries, aiming to advance sustainable battery production in Europe.
Under the agreement, Fortum will supply high-quality recycled graphite concentrate from its hydrometallurgical recycling facility in Harjavalta, Finland. The two companies will work together to develop and optimize recycled graphite materials suitable for use in Vianode’s commercial-scale anode production. Additionally, they will evaluate the performance of these recycled materials in advanced battery applications.
“Fortum Battery Recycling and Vianode share a strong commitment to sustainability and reducing the environmental impact of EV battery production,” said Tero Holländer, head of Fortum Battery Recycling. “By recovering critical materials like graphite from end-of-life batteries and reintroducing them into the battery value chain, we can help significantly reduce the carbon footprint of lithium-ion battery manufacturing.”
Dr. Stefan Bergold, chief commercial officer at Vianode, emphasized the importance of recycled graphite to the company’s goals. “Recycling graphite from spent batteries is essential to reduce reliance on virgin raw materials, lower emissions and strengthen sustainable supply chains. Access to scalable recycled graphite will support our goal to produce anode materials with a CO2 footprint of less than one kilogram CO2e per kilogram of graphite by 2030.”
Graphite is the single largest component of lithium-ion batteries by weight, with an average of 70 kilograms used per EV battery. Most of the graphite used today is synthetic and predominantly imported from China, which currently supplies about 90% of the global market. However, Europe is preparing for a major increase in battery recycling by 2030, driven by the aging of the first generation of EVs and new European Union regulations mandating higher recovery rates and increased use of recycled content in new batteries.
Fortum’s Harjavalta facility is the largest closed-loop hydrometallurgical battery recycling plant in Europe. In March 2025, the European Commission designated the Harjavalta operation as a Strategic Project under the Critical Raw Materials Act. This recognition underscores Fortum’s role in supporting the EU’s efforts to boost domestic raw material production essential for the green transition.
By joining forces, Fortum and Vianode aim to establish a reliable supply of recycled graphite that meets the performance and sustainability requirements of next-generation EV batteries.
Fortum Battery Recycling provides advanced recycling solutions for lithium-ion batteries and battery manufacturing waste, recovering valuable metals to create sustainable, recycled raw materials for reuse. The company operates Europe’s largest closed-loop hydrometallurgical battery recycling facility in Harjavalta, Finland, along with pretreatment and mechanical processing centers in both Germany and Finland. Fortum Battery Recycling is part of Fortum’s broader business portfolio.
