The new EU Batteries Regulation: Towards sustainable batteries for a circular and climate neutral economy
Brussels, 14.06.2023 – Today the European Parliament is voting on the new EU Batteries Regulation, and RECHARGE welcomes this blueprint legislation regulating the whole life-cycle of batteries placed on the EU market. RECHARGE, the expert voice of the advanced rechargeable and lithium batteries value chain, remains supportive during the development of the secondary legislation for a successful implementation of the provisions. “It is key that the Regulation can deliver on advancing the decarbonisation and energy transition in the EU, and that the European batteries value chain becomes a competitive global leader, able to set sustainability standards globally”, commented Claude Chanson, RECHARGE General Manager, looking ahead to the implementation phase.
For the rapid development of a domestic value chain and complementary to the new EU Batteries Regulation, RECHARGE welcomes the two supportive legislations, the Critical Raw Materials Act and the Net Zero Industry Act. “Finally, what we need now is a speedy inter-institutional agreement on the Net Zero Industry Act as well as the Critical Raw Materials Act to avoid a standstill of projects. If Europe wants to accelerate the energy transition, reduce carbon emissions, invest in new technologies and increase economic resilience, it should act fast and decisive”, commented Kinga Timaru-Kast, Director for Public Affairs & Communications at RECHARGE.
RECHARGE has advocated for years for a batteries framework to include requirements on the carbon footprint of the product and for social responsibility of the companies active in the field. The new EU Batteries Regulation shapes the future for a sustainable battery value chain and its ability to assist in Europe meeting its carbon-neutrality objectives. “Carbon intensity and due diligence provisions have the potential to not only prevent underperforming batteries from entering the EU market, but to truly work towards the climate-neutrality and sustainability objectives of the EU. The new sustainability measures will set the rules for the game for selling batteries in Europe. This can only be successful with effective enforcement and control of the provisions. Furthermore, if correctly implemented, both the carbon footprint and due diligence have an unsurpassed steering potential to push European competitiveness based on sustainability and responsibility”, added Chanson.
RECHARGE is now committed to work with EU legislators on the broad package of implementing legislation and to translate the ambition of the Regulation into feasible and meaningful rules. A prerequisite for a flourishing sustainable and competitive European battery ecosystem is a successful implementation of the Batteries Regulation for which information traceability, third party audits as well as enforcement and control at Member States level are crucial. RECHARGE looks forward to continuing playing a key role in supporting the development of the battery value chain in Europe, to provide expert input to policymakers to shape secondary acts of the Regulation and ensuring a proper implementation of the Batteries Regulation.
**ENDS**
RECHARGE is the European industry association for advanced rechargeable and lithium batteries. Founded in 1998, it is our mission to promote advanced rechargeable batteries as a key technology that will contribute to a more empowered, sustainable and circular economy by enabling decarbonised electricity and mobility, and cutting-edge consumer products. RECHARGE’s unique membership covers all aspects of the advanced rechargeable battery value chain: From suppliers of primary and secondary raw materials, to battery and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), to logistic partners and battery recyclers. www.rechargebatteries.org
Contact: Kinga Timaru-Kast, Public Affairs & Communications Director, ktimaru-Kast@rechargebatteries.org, +32 486 996 870
