EU countries approve new rules on battery production and recycling

EU member states have approved a draft law clarifying the rules for batteries throughout their life cycle—from production to recycling. With the regulation, the Union aims to make up ground in the battery sector compared with China and the US by supporting investment in research and manufacturing capacity. 

Batteries are a key component of the automotive and electronics industries. Europe is currently lagging in the production of automotive batteries, however, as the news site Euractiv notes. The regulation, proposed by the Commission in December 2020, includes rules for automotive batteries, among other things. These rules will apply to companies both in the Union and in third countries from which batteries are imported. The main aim is to reduce the amount of waste generated after batteries are used and make efficient use of the remaining materials.

Among other requirements, manufacturers will have to ensure the separate collection of end-of-life automotive batteries, reaching 63% by 2027 and 73% by 2030. Collected batteries must be recycled, with critical raw materials kept in the European manufacturing process. From 2026, every battery will also have its own “passport”, and from 2027 a QR code with information on its capacity, power, lifespan and chemical composition. It will also include a carbon footprint declaration—the amount of emissions generated during production.