Cosmo Chemical Signed Battery Recycling Agreement
The tolling deal creates a closed-loop supply chain linking European recycled materials to South Korean refining.
Updated on Sept. 21, 2026 in Chemistry
Live Poll
Do you believe global battery recycling partnerships will lead to more sustainable manufacturing practices?
Cosmo Chemical has entered into a battery recycling tolling agreement with FINO. This partnership enables the processing of European pre-treated battery black mass into usable mineral products.
Why it matters
The deal establishes a closed-loop supply chain connecting European recycling efforts with South Korean refining capacity. It aims to increase the integration of recycled cobalt and nickel into global battery precursor production.
Cosmo Chemical utilizes hydrometallurgical technology—a chemical process that uses aqueous solutions to recover metals from solid materials—to process pre-treated battery black mass. The resulting cobalt and nickel sulfates are then supplied to FINO for precursor and cathode production.
The players
Cosmo Chemical
A South Korean firm specializing in the production of battery materials and hydrometallurgical refining processes.
FINO
A battery supply chain participant backed by shareholders including CNGR and Samsung SDI.
The details
The process begins with the procurement of pre-treated battery black mass from Europe, which is then refined in South Korea. Cosmo Chemical applies hydrometallurgical methods to isolate the minerals, which are converted into high-purity sulfates. These outputs act as feedstock for cathode material production, effectively reintegrating recovered minerals into the battery supply chain.
Timeline
September 18, 2026: Cosmo Chemical and FINO signed a recycling agreement.
The Tech Race
This partnership marks a strategic expansion in the global effort to create circular economies for critical battery minerals. By connecting European scrap collection with South Korean processing, the deal directly competes with traditional mining models for a stake in the supply of sustainable cathode materials.
The agreement shifts the sourcing strategy for major battery manufacturers by integrating higher volumes of recycled content into their production pipelines. While the immediate impact remains industrial, it establishes the infrastructure necessary for broader adoption of recycled minerals in consumer electronics and vehicle batteries.
The takeaway
This deal signals a maturation in recycling logistics, moving beyond pilot programs toward consistent cross-continental material flows. Industry observers should track the future quarterly reporting from CNGR and Samsung SDI for updates on how this recycled feedstock integrates into their mass-market cathode output.
Further reading
For additional context on material recovery, visit Chemistry.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Metal.
Live Poll
Do you believe global battery recycling partnerships will lead to more sustainable manufacturing practices?
