Carbon footprint of batteries

A new mandatory requirement

The European Battery Regulation requires a mandatory carbon footprint declaration for all batteries entering the EU market in 2025. These requirements apply to batteries for electric vehicles (EVs), light means of transport (LMT) batteries, and industrial batteries with a capacity exceeding 2 kWh.

The aim of this new regulation is to govern the entire life cycle of batteries entering the EU market, ensure safety against the risks of batteries, embed their development within a circular economy approach, and strengthen the EU's strategic autonomy.

Roadmap

Here are the key steps for the gradual and structured implementation of the European Battery Regulation, as outlined in Article 7 of the regulation:

Carbon footprint declaration

The declaration provides detailed data on the carbon footprint.

Carbon footprint performance classes

The classes enable the comparison of batteries' environmental performance based on their carbon footprint.

Maximum carbon footprint thresholds

The maximum thresholds establish a mandatory limit that all batteries must comply with in order to be placed on the market.

A framework under development

Battery manufacturers must calculate and display the carbon footprint of each model and production site using company- and site-specific data. This data is aligned with the PEF method, which remains the reference for carbon footprint assessment. The PEF method relies on a detailed life cycle analysis (LCA) of the batteries, including:

The extraction and production of raw materials.
The manufacturing stages.
The distribution and use of batteries.
The management of their end-of-life.

Since the publication of the official calculation rules for the CFB-EV (Carbon Footprint of Electric Vehicle Batteries) by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) in February 2024, battery producers have had a clear framework to comply with the new requirements. The technical secretariat of PEF Batteries, coordinated by RECHARGE, completed the drafting of the PEFCR (Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules) for batteries in mid-2024.

Other strategic documents complement this regulatory framework:

Global Battery Alliance Greenhouse Gas Rulebook for Electric Vehicle Batteries: Updated in 2024.
EPD International c-PCR Batteries and parts thereof : Officially published on the ENVIRONDEC platform in September 2024.

Carbon footprint declaration

For each battery model, the carbon footprint declaration must include:

This declaration must be verified by a notified third-party organisation. It includes a public version for transparency and a more detailed confidential version intended for the verification body.

The benefits of a reduced carbon footprint

In addition to meeting regulatory requirements, determining the carbon footprint of batteries offers several benefits:

Identification and optimisation of CO2-intensive processes, leading to material and energy savings.
Improvement of product competitiveness through a reduced carbon footprint.
Increased transparency enhancing consumer and partner trust.
Differentiation from competitors through sustainable business practices.
Greater attractiveness to investors through clear environmental commitments.

How WeLOOP can support you

WeLOOP has in-depth expertise in battery production and recycling processes, whether conventional or innovative. We closely monitor regulatory and methodological developments and offer tailored strategies to optimise environmental practices and ensure compliance with new requirements.

Personalised support

WeLOOP supports organisations in gathering the necessary data and effectively integrating PEF methodologies into their operational processes.

BATTERS database

WeLOOP has developed the BATTERS database. It includes Life Cycle Inventories (LCIs) specific to the recycling processes of electric vehicle batteries, enabling the calculation of their carbon footprint in accordance with the European regulation.