Toyota Collaborates with Cirba Solutions to Achieve Sustainable Battery Recycling
Introduction
Toyota has partnered with battery recycling specialist Cirba Solutions to establish a closed-loop system and support its carbon neutrality objectives. This collaboration aims to enhance Toyota’s battery recycling and logistics networks for the collection of end-of-life electric vehicle (EV) batteries. Cirba Solutions, a prominent battery recycling company in North America, offers a comprehensive collection and recycling network across the country.
Collaboration Details
The collaboration between Toyota and Cirba Solutions will primarily focus on the collection, transportation, dismantling, and processing of end-of-life lithium-ion EV batteries from the Midwest and East Coast regions. By working together, both companies aim to create a sustainable closed-loop battery supply chain.
Battery Processing and Recovery
Cirba Solutions’ facility in Lancaster, Ohio will be responsible for processing the collected batteries. The facility is expected to achieve an impressive recovery rate of up to 95% by extracting critical minerals from scrap and end-of-life batteries. These recovered battery grade metals will then be reintroduced into the supply chain.
Increasing Battery Collection
Currently, Toyota collects approximately 25,000 used batteries annually from its dealership network. However, as the sales of battery electric vehicles grow, particularly those utilizing lithium-ion batteries, Toyota anticipates a rise in the number of end-of-life batteries. This collaboration will help facilitate the collection and recycling of these batteries efficiently.
Reducing Costs and Carbon Footprint
Toyota aims to reduce its overall transportation and logistics costs by at least 70% through this collaboration. By focusing on the Midwest and East Coast regions, the average miles driven for collection and recycling will be significantly reduced from 1,251 to 582, based on 2022 data. Christopher Yang, Group Vice President of Business Development at Toyota Motor North America, highlights that Cirba Solutions’ extensive transportation and recycling network will enable nationwide battery collection and recycling, thereby reducing costs and operational carbon footprint.
Future Plans
In addition to this collaboration, Toyota is constructing a new automotive battery plant in North Carolina. This facility, expected to be operational by 2025 at a cost of nearly US$14 billion (EUR 13 billion), further demonstrates Toyota’s commitment to sustainable battery production and recycling.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy | 7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix | – Not mentioned in the article – |
| SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure | 9.4: Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable | – Not mentioned in the article – |
| SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production | 12.5: Substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse | – Not mentioned in the article – |
| SDG 13: Climate Action | 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising, and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning | – Not mentioned in the article – |
| SDG 15: Life on Land | 15.2: Promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests, and increase afforestation and reforestation globally | – Not mentioned in the article – |
| SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals | 17.16: Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology, and financial resources | – Not mentioned in the article – |
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
- SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
- SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
- SDG 13: Climate Action
- SDG 15: Life on Land
- SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
The issues highlighted in the article are connected to multiple SDGs, including affordable and clean energy, industry, innovation, and infrastructure, responsible consumption and production, climate action, life on land, and partnerships for the goals.
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- Target 7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix
- Target 9.4: Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable
- Target 12.5: Substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse
- Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising, and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning
- Target 15.2: Promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests, and increase afforestation and reforestation globally
- Target 17.16: Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology, and financial resources
Based on the article’s content, the specific targets that can be identified are related to increasing the share of renewable energy, upgrading infrastructure and industries to be sustainable, reducing waste generation through recycling, improving education and awareness on climate change, promoting sustainable forest management, and enhancing global partnerships for sustainable development.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
No indicators are mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets.
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Source: recyclinginternational.com
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