New EU rules on recycling batteries

New rules around battery design, manufacturing and recycling

On Wednesday, June 14, 2023, the European Parliament approved new rules regarding the design, production and waste management of batteries sold in the EU. The purpose of this regulation is to prevent and reduce the negative impact of batteries on the environment, and to ensure a safe and sustainable battery value chain. Important aspects considered include the carbon footprint of battery production, ethical sources of raw materials, security of supply, and promoting reuse, repurposing and recycling.

With an overwhelming majority of 587 votes in favor, nine against and 20 abstentions, MEPs approved an agreement reached with the Council to revise EU rules on batteries and waste batteries. Designed to take into account technological developments and future challenges in the sector, the new law will cover the entire life cycle of batteries, from design to end-of-life.

Important measures provided in the regulation:

• A mandatory declaration and label for the carbon footprint of batteries for electric vehicles (EV), batteries for light transport vehicles (LMT) (e.g., for electric scooters and bicycles), and rechargeable industrial batteries with a capacity above 2 kWh.
• Designing portable batteries in devices in such a way that consumers can easily remove and replace them themselves.
• A digital battery passport for LMT batteries, industrial batteries with capacity above 2 kWh and EV batteries.
• A due diligence policy for all economic actors except small and medium-sized enterprises.
• Stricter waste battery collection targets: for portable batteries - 45% by 2023, 63% by 2027 and 73% by 2030; for LMT batteries - 51% by 2028 and 61% by 2031.
• Minimum levels of materials recovered from end-of-life batteries: lithium - 50% by 2027 and 80% by 2031; cobalt, copper, lead and nickel - 90% by 2027 and 95% by 2031.
• Minimum levels of recycled material from production and consumer waste for use in new batteries: eight years after entry into force - 16% for cobalt, 85% for lead, 6% for lithium and 6% for nickel; thirteen years after entry into force - 26% for cobalt, 85% for lead, 12% for lithium and 15% for nickel.

Rapporteur Achille Variati (S&D, IT) said:

"For the first time, we have circular economy legislation that covers the entire life cycle of a product - an approach that is both good for the environment and for the economy. We have agreed with measures that will bring significant benefits to consumers: batteries will work well, be safer and easier to dispose of. Our overall goal is to build a stronger EU recycling industry, especially for lithium, and a competitive industrial sector as a whole, which is crucial in the coming decades for the energy transition and strategic autonomy of our continent. These measures could become a benchmark for the entire global battery market."

Response Energy Storage NL

ESNL endorses and supports the proposals by the European commission around battery recycling so that valuable materials are reused and the carbon footprint of energy storage is reduced. ESNL sees the importance of these proposals and the necessary translation at the national level. ESNL is therefore in consultation with various responsible bodies. In addition, ESNL sees that several members are already working on recycling. For example, the Battery Competence Cluster, ESNL's partner, is taking steps to better organize the recycling chain to increase battery recycling capacity in the Netherlands.

Source: European Parliament