On 10th December 2020 the European Commission proposed to modernise the EU legislation on batteries, delivering its first initiative among the actions announced in the new Circular Economy Action Plan. This Regulation aims to ensure that batteries placed in the EU market are sustainable and safe throughout their entire life cycle.
European consumers expect all batteries sold in the EU to be safe, sustainable, and perform according to the product specification. You do not want your car's battery to catch fire, or to run out of electricity after 100 km if its range should be 500.
How can the European Commission improve battery recycling?
The European Commission proposed to increase the transparency and traceability of batteries throughout the entire cycle life by using new IT technologies, such as Battery Passport. The relatively immature technology, and limited investment and profit are several other challenges of the LIB recycling.
Since 2006, batteries and waste batteries have been regulated at EU level under the Batteries Directive (2006/66/EC). A modernisation of the framework is necessary because of changed socioeconomic conditions, technological developments, markets, and battery uses. Demand for batteries is increasing rapidly and is set to increase 14 fold by 2030.
What is batteries Europe?
Since 2019 Batteries Europe is the research coordination strand of the European Battery Alliance. Scientists at the JRC perform cutting-edge research for finding ways to produce better batteries and to recycle them.
The battery life cycle is currently energy- and material-intensive and therefore associated with significant environmental impacts, mainly due to the greenhouse gas emissions from raw materials sourcing and refining.
Consumers and existing battery products are less impacted by the LIB supply chain disruption than by fossil fuel shortages, but the stability of the supply chain is necessary for the long-term sustainable development of LIBs. A closer collaboration across the world and associated legislation are recommended to achieve a sustainable supply chain.