The European Parliament has approved new rules for the design, production, and waste management of all battery types sold in the EU. The new rules, which are an overhaul of EU regulations on batteries and waste batteries, aim to make batteries more sustainable, more durable, and better performing.
The new rules cover the entire life cycle of a product, from the extraction of raw materials to the end-of-life treatment of batteries. They include requirements for:
- The use of more sustainable materials, such as recycled content and cobalt-free cathodes.
- Increased energy efficiency and longer lifespans for batteries.
- Improved collection and recycling of waste batteries.
- Mandatory carbon footprint declarations and labels for certain types of batteries.
The new rules are expected to have a significant impact on the battery industry in the EU. They will encourage battery manufacturers to use more environmentally friendly materials and production methods, and to design batteries that are easier to recycle. The rules will also help to ensure that batteries are collected and recycled more effectively, which will reduce the environmental impact of batteries.
The new rules are part of the EU’s broader efforts to promote a circular economy. The circular economy is an economic model that aims to reduce waste and pollution by keeping products and materials in use for as long as possible. The new battery rules are a key step towards a more circular economy for batteries in the EU.
Here are some additional details about the new rules:
- The recycled target for portable batteries is 45% by 2023, 63% by 2027, and 73% by 2030.
- The recycled target for LMT batteries is 51% by 2028 and 61% by 2031.
- Minimum levels of materials recovered from waste batteries and those of recycled content from manufacturing and consumer waste for use in new batteries are also under regulations.
The new rules will come into force in 2024. They will help to make batteries more sustainable and environmentally friendly, and will support the development of a circular economy for batteries in the EU.