Ahead of the 13th Battery Summit in Tokyo, we interviewed Yu Tack Kim of Advanced Battery Recycle (ABR), who will be speaking at the event. In this interview, he discussed his professional background, ABR’s initiatives as a Korean company under his leadership as CEO, and the company’s approach to the Battery Summit. He also shared his expectations and ambitions for the 13th Battery Summit in Tokyo.
Q1. Could you briefly introduce yourself and share the story behind ABR?
I founded ABR in February 2021 with a clear vision: to accelerate the global adoption and large-scale deployment of environmentally responsible battery recycling technologies. Our core mission is not only to commercialize, but to make the most cost-efficient and sustainable battery recycling solutions accessible worldwide.
While many countries today operate battery manufacturing facilities and host major cell producers, only a limited number have developed domestic battery recycling capabilities. As battery production continues to expand globally, this imbalance poses both economic and environmental risks. We believe that recycling infrastructure must grow in parallel with manufacturing capacity.
At ABR, we advocate for a fully closed-loop system in which batteries are manufactured and recycled within the same country or region. This is what true circularity in the battery industry looks like—minimizing resource dependency, reducing environmental impact, and strengthening supply chain resilience.
I have been engaged in battery research for over 20 years, and our team collectively brings nearly a century of experience in lithium-ion and next-generation battery technologies. Leveraging this expertise, we are committed to scaling up sustainable, environmentally responsible, and economically viable battery recycling solutions on a global level.
Q2. What key themes or insights will you be sharing at the upcoming Battery Summit?
At the upcoming Battery Summit, we will present our commercialization roadmap and large-scale implementation strategy for direct recycling technology.
In the United States and Europe, direct recycling is still largely confined to laboratory research and pilot programs. In contrast, ABR has already established an operational production line with an annual processing capacity of 1,000 to 2,000 tons—demonstrating the technical and economic feasibility of industrial-scale deployment.
Our proprietary process eliminates the need for hazardous chemicals and high-temperature treatment. Instead, it utilizes water-based and mechanical separation methods, enabling material recovery without increasing CO₂ emissions during the recycling process.
Historically, spent batteries generated in Europe and the U.S. have often been exported to Asia for processing, resulting in high logistics costs and additional carbon emissions. Our solution enables localized recycling and remanufacturing at the point of generation, significantly reducing transportation expenses while lowering the overall carbon footprint.
We believe this approach represents one of the most cost-efficient and environmentally responsible recycling solutions currently available to battery manufacturers pursuing sustainable supply chains.
Q3. Direct recycling is widely considered technically challenging. What gives ABR confidence in its ability to commercialize and scale this technology?
Direct recycling is often viewed as technically complex, particularly when companies attempt to process highly heterogeneous feedstocks such as end-of-life batteries and mixed metal scrap. Variability in material composition inevitably increases process complexity, operational costs, and scalability challenges.
ABR has taken a different approach. We focus primarily on production scrap generated during battery manufacturing. Unlike end-of-life batteries, this material offers consistent composition, stable quality, and greater traceability—making it significantly more suitable for direct recycling applications.
By narrowing our feedstock scope strategically, we are able to simplify process design, improve operational efficiency, and enhance product consistency. This focused approach reduces technical uncertainty and enables a smoother, more predictable transition from pilot operations to full-scale commercialization.
We believe that scalability in direct recycling is not only a matter of technological capability, but also of disciplined process strategy—and this is where ABR differentiates itself.
Q4. Could you share ABR’s partnership strategy in Korea and internationally? What role do you see for Japanese battery and materials companies?
In Korea, we are currently conducting a proof of concept (PoC) with Korean major battery manufacture. We are also working in India on a PoC initiative. In Japan, we have been in discussions with several companies which have expressed strong interest in our direct recycling technology.
We are also considering the establishment of a joint venture in Japan. Through this Summit, we aim to showcase our technology and explore further collaboration opportunities with Japanese battery and materials manufacturers.
Q5. What message would you like to share ahead of the Tokyo Summit?
The battery industry has entered a pivotal phase. Expanding manufacturing capacity alone is no longer sufficient to ensure long-term competitiveness and sustainability. The next stage requires the construction of a truly circular ecosystem.
We believe that enabling each country or region to integrate battery manufacturing and recycling domestically is fundamental to achieving genuine circularity, strengthening resource security, and reducing carbon emissions.
At the Tokyo Summit, we look forward to presenting a commercially scalable direct recycling solution and forging strategic partnerships that will contribute to building a more sustainable, resilient, and cost-efficient global battery industry.
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(IRuniverse Midori Fushimi)
