Aluminum is said to be the most effective replacement for iron to reduce vehicle weight. Since 1998, Toyota Tsusho has been supplying recycled secondary aluminum alloy ingots in a molten state, which has better CO₂ emissions reduction effects, and is one of the world's top suppliers.

Even though it is still aluminum, the supply of molten recycled aluminum can generally be expected to have about a 98% CO₂ emissions reduction effect compared to the use of new aluminum ingots refined using massive amounts of energy. As aluminum demand increases, we are developing technologies that can enhance the value of low-grade aluminum scrap and increase use rates, and we are creating smart factories that raise energy efficiency.

As a part of the circular recycling business that Toyota Tsusho is developing, we are reinforcing functions in the aluminum recycling value chain from upstream to downstream.

From the perspective of mobility, the widespread uptake of next-generation eco-cars is a key factor in reducing CO₂ emissions and combating climate change. Since the end of 2014, Toyota Tsusho and Orocobre Limited have been jointly producing lithium carbonate at the Salar de Olaroz facility in Argentina to provide a stable supply. As the electrification of automobiles accelerates, the demand for lithium is expected to keep growing. By enhancing our production capacity to meet the robust demand, we are aiming to build a long-term, stable lithium supply structure.

In 2018, we established Toyotsu Lithium Corporation, the first dedicated lithium hydroxide manufacturing company in Japan. The company aims to manufacture and sell lithium hydroxide, which is a raw material for LiBs, and is building a manufacturing plant in Naraha-machi, Fukushima Prefecture, at which it plans to start production in 2022.