EU Battery Regulation

As of February 2024, the new EU Battery Regulation 2023/1542 has entered into force, setting strict production and disposal standards for batteries. It also requires the calculation of the CO₂ footprint, disclosure of recycling content, and compliance with due diligence obligations.

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The New EU Battery Regulation 2023/1542: A New Era for Battery Production

The European Green Deal is an economic plan designed to make decarbonization feasible and profitable for European industry, with the goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2050 (key sectors: energy-intensive industries and clean tech).

The regulation marks a significant shift in the landscape of battery production and places an emphasis on sustainability and transparency. It replaces the previous EU directive, and with its binding requirements, represents a significant change for the battery industry and its access to the European market.

Primary objectives of the regulation

    Sustainable production

    Ensuring the sustainable production of batteries

    Collection, reuse, and recycling

    Promoting the collection, reuse, and recycling of batteries in Europe

    Low carbon footprint

    Introducing requirements for carbon footprint declarations and performance classes

    Targets for recycled content

    Setting targets to reduce dependence on raw materials from non-EU countries

    Minimization of harmful substances

    Ensuring that batteries contain only the absolute minimum of harmful substances

    Consumer information

    Providing digital access to information on performance, durability, health status, and expected lifespan (battery passport)

Key Implementation Deadlines

  • Starting February 18, 2025: Calculation and publication of the carbon footprint (initially for electric vehicle batteries). Rechargeable industrial batteries will follow in 2026, and batteries for light commercial vehicles in 2028.
  • Starting August 18, 2025: Economic operators must establish and implement binding principles and strategies for due diligence policies regarding batteries.

Primary Impacts: Affected Stakeholders

Battery manufacturers

The regulation sets strict standards for production (material use, recycling, labeling). Manufacturers must comply with these standards to continue selling products in the EU.

Distributors and importers

They must ensure that imported batteries comply with the regulation, verify the manufacturer’s compliance, and conduct their own checks.

Retailers and sellers

They may only sell compliant batteries, must display environmental information where required, and must request proof of origin from suppliers.

Recyclers

New requirements apply for the separation of battery types and ensuring the lowest possible environmental impact during the recycling process.

Notified bodies

Independent organizations (such as Kiwa in the future) authorized by the European Commission to verify product compliance.

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Kiwa: Your Partner for Sustainability and the EU Battery Regulation

Kiwa offers comprehensive support for implementing the regulation, from conformity assessment to GAP analysis. We provide customized training on topics such as carbon footprint, recycling rates, due diligence, and battery performance.

3rd Party Audit (Conflict Minerals)

Due diligence audit of your company and your smelters/refineries in accordance with OECD guidelines.

ESG Audit (SEE Certification)

A holistic process that ensures the highest ESG standards and enhances your industry reputation.

ESG Supplier Audits

Independent verification audits to assess your suppliers’ ESG practices.

ESG Supplier Assessment

Remote assessment of your suppliers’ sustainability performance based on relevant documents.

Verification of Sustainability Reports

Independent review in accordance with GRI and AA1000 standards for maximum reliability.

Traceability Assessment

Creates transparency in the supply chain to identify ESG risks and opportunities.

Traceability of Inspections per Shipment

Inspections at critical production points to ensure compliance with ESG requirements.

Corporate Carbon Footprint (CCF)

Calculation and management of the company-wide carbon footprint for effective reduction strategies.

Product Carbon Footprint (PCF)

Determination, assessment, and verification of carbon emissions for specific products.

Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)

Assessment and review of environmental product declarations in accordance with current ecodesign regulations.

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