CATL Partners with Ellen MacArthur Foundation to Advance Battery Circular Economy

Looking ahead, CATL is committed to advancing global energy circularity and will collaborate with the Foundation to explore opportunities for a circular economy across the entire battery value chain. Together, they aim to build an ecosystem of cross-industry partners, developing and implementing a blueprint for battery circularity.

The challenge of implementing a circular economy in the battery industry

Although the industry recognizes the need to shift away from a linear 'take-make-waste' model, the journey toward achieving this is complex. The expertise that CATL brings to the strategic partnership will be vital in creating a truly circular battery industry.

Sandy Song, CATL's Global Lead for Circular Economy, commented, "This Strategic Partnership is a significant step in realizing our shared vision of a sustainable energy future. By combining our expertise and innovation in the battery industry with the Foundation's leadership in circular economy practices, we are well-positioned to create a fully circular battery ecosystem. This effort is not just about environmental responsibility—it's about driving innovation and building a system that benefits industries and communities globally."

The potential of circular value chains in renewable energy and electrification

Joe Murphy, Executive Lead for Network at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, said, "The rapid expansion of renewable energy and electrification presents a unique opportunity to build circular value chains from the ground up. Embracing a circular economy enables businesses to recover valuable resources from early-stage technologies like electric vehicles, rather than discarding them. CATL's expertise as the world's leading producer of batteries for electric vehicles and energy storage systems will be instrumental in establishing a circular battery industry and advancing the wider energy transition."

At the Foundation's annual Network event in Amsterdam, Dennis Pan, CATL's Chief Sustainability Officer, underscored the importance of designing batteries with recyclability in mind. CATL has adopted a zero-carbon strategy that prioritizes the use of renewable and reusable materials, along with promoting recycling. In 2024, CATL successfully recycled approximately 130,000 tons of used batteries, producing 17,000 tons of lithium salt.