Brussels,

Batteries and accumulators

The European Union recognizes batteries as a critical technology for achieving climate neutrality and advancing a circular economy. Global demand for batteries is expected to rise 14-fold by 2030, with the EU accounting for around 17% of this demand. To address the environmental and socioeconomic impacts of this growth, the EU adopted a new Batteries Regulation on 12 July 2023 (in force since 17 August 2023).
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• Demand for batteries in the EU is projected to grow by a factor of 14 by 2030, primarily driven by electric vehicles (EVs), renewable energy storage, and portable electronics.
• The EU could represent around 17% of global battery demand by 2030
• Historically around 180,000–200,000 tonnes of portable batteries per year have been placed on the EU market
• Recent data (pre-2020) indicate that the EU average collection rate for portable batteries hovered around 45–50%. Some Member States exceed these averages, while others are still catching up.
• Lead-acid batteries have high recycling rates (often above 90%), while lithium-ion battery recycling is still evolving and improving as new technologies emerge.
• Lithium, cobalt, nickel, and other critical materials from lithium-ion batteries are increasingly being recovered, but current rates and methods vary across recycling facilities.

Key Objectives

• Sustainability across the life cycle
  Ensure batteries are sustainable from material sourcing through production, use, collection, recycling, and repurposing.
  
• Circular economy and zero pollution
  Promote battery design and waste management practices that reduce pollution, increase recycling efficiencies, and recover valuable materials.
  
• Strategic autonomy
  Strengthen the EU’s competitiveness and independence from fossil fuel imports by supporting a robust sustainable battery industry within Europe.
  

Legislative Framework

• Batteries Directive (2006/66/EC)
  In force since 2006, this Directive will be repealed in 2025 when the new Batteries Regulation fully applies.
• New Batteries Regulation (EU) 2023/1542
  Entered into force on 17 August 2023. It updates and expands requirements for battery sustainability, introduces stricter recycling targets, and sets rules for carbon footprint disclosures and due diligence.
• Related Decisions and Regulations
  • Methodologies for calculating battery sales, recycling efficiencies, and capacity labelling.
  • Reporting obligations for EU Member States on battery implementation and performance.
    • Decision on a common methodology for the calculation of annual sales of portable batteries and accumulators to end-users
    • Decision on a questionnaire for Member States reports on the implementation of the Batteries Directive
    • Regulation - rules on capacity labelling of portable secondary (rechargeable) and automotive batteries and accumulators
    • Regulation - rules on calculating recycling efficiencies of the recycling processes of waste batteries and accumulators and guidelines on applying this Regulation

Implementation

• From 2024 onwards, the European Commission will adopt additional delegated and implementing acts to detail and operationalize the new rules:
  • COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) …/... establishing the format of the carbon footprint declaration for batteries in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 of the European Parliament and of the Council
  • ​COMMISSION DELEGATED REGULATION (EU) …/... supplementing Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 of the European Parliament and of the Council by establishing the methodology for calculation and verification of rates for recycling efficiency and recovery of materials from waste batteries, and the format for the documentation.Select: 1 
  • COMMISSION DELEGATED REGULATION (EU) …/... supplementing Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 of the European Parliament and of the Council by establishing the methodology for the calculation and verification of the carbon footprint of electric vehicle batteries
• These secondary measures will ensure consistency across Member States, providing harmonized standards for recycling, labelling, and sustainability requirements.

Studies and Publications

• Various studies have been conducted under the existing Batteries Directive, focusing on feasibility assessments, life-cycle evaluations, capacity labelling, and recycling efficiencies.
• Future studies and reports under the new Batteries Regulation will be published starting in 2024.

Timeline Highlights

• 6 September 2006 – Original Batteries Directive enters into force.
• 9 December 2020 – Commission adopts the proposal for new battery rules.
• 12 July 2023 – New Batteries Regulation adopted by Parliament and Council.
• 17 August 2023 – New Batteries Regulation enters into force.

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