From smartphones to drones to vehicles – most electrical devices today rely on lithium-ion batteries. And the electrification of individual mobility is further increasing demand for batteries – and thus for the raw material lithium. Currently, this demand in Europe is met through imports; recycling has so far played barely any role.
Munich-based startup Tozero wants to change this. To do so, the company is developing a scalable recycling facility for lithium-ion batteries. It is designed to recover not only lithium but also other valuable materials such as nickel, cobalt, and graphite from disposed batteries. Tozero was founded in July 2022 by Sarah Fleischer and Ksenija Milicevic Neumann. In their work, the two founders collaborate closely with Prof. Bernd Friedrich, who, as head of the Institute for Metallurgical Process Technology and Metal Recycling at RWTH Aachen, is regarded as a pioneer in battery recycling research.
Sarah Fleischer, co-founder and CEO of Tozero, says:
“We must act now and develop a scalable and robust battery recycling process. At Tozero, we have committed to questioning the status quo of the material lifecycle to accelerate decarbonization. This way, we can confidently enter the age of electrification, continue innovation, and improve quality of life without compromise. We are delighted that we have been able to win such renowned investors and Prof. Bernd Friedrich as an advisor for our mission.”
“A turning point in the industry”
Daniel Niemi, principal at Atlantic Labs, is enthusiastic about the startup:
“The introduction of a novel and sustainable method for recycling black mass (black mass refers to further processed battery waste, ed.) from lithium-ion batteries is a turning point in the industry and enables significantly higher recovery rates of key metals than the methods currently in use. Sarah and Ksenija are a fantastic founding team with symbiotic skills, deep expertise, and the ambition to build a sustainable company. We are very much looking forward to working with them on this mission.”
And Jochem Heizmann, former Volkswagen board member and business angel, adds:
“Recovering all raw materials from lithium-ion batteries through recycling is a necessity from both economic and ecological perspectives, but it is not yet state-of-the-art. In addition to the importance of this task, I was convinced to invest by the competence of the Tozero founding team.”
