The Global Battery Alliance (GBA) has successfully unveiled the results of its 2024 Battery Passport pilot programme, a key step in promoting sustainability and transparency in the battery supply chain. The announcement was made during the GBA’s Annual General Meeting, held in Shanghai and Ningde, where ten consortia, led by major global battery manufacturers, presented findings from what is the largest pre-competitive collaboration of its kind.
The Battery Passport initiative, launched in January 2023 as a proof of concept at the World Economic Forum in Davos, has evolved over the past year into a comprehensive pilot programme involving seven digital solution providers. Together, these consortia mapped the origins and flow of seven critical materials – lithium, graphite, aluminium, cobalt, copper, iron phosphate, and nickel – to enhance traceability and responsible sourcing in the battery sector.
Among the prominent participants was Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL), which spearheaded two pilot projects focusing on its Shenxing and CTP battery models. As one of the first companies to complete and share its results, CATL achieved a significant milestone by attaining independent verification of data in line with GBA standards, showcasing a carbon footprint of 49 kgCO2eq/kWh across both battery types. This milestone highlights CATL’s commitment to sustainable practices and adherence to the stringent criteria of the Battery Passport, which covers areas including greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity, and circular design.
CATL’s Vice President and Board Secretary, Jiang Li, emphasised the company’s dedication to collaborative industry efforts. “The future of the battery industry lies in ensuring sustainability and circularity. CATL is proud to be at the forefront of these efforts,” he stated, adding that the company’s involvement in the Battery Passport initiative is a step towards creating a more responsible and environmentally friendly battery industry.
The GBA Battery Passport aims to address a longstanding need for uniform standards in battery production and disposal by providing accessible and verified data on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance across the battery lifecycle. Through the development of seven rulebooks created by the GBA, these pilots have aligned with both regulatory and voluntary standards, supporting an industry-wide movement towards sustainability.
Inga Petersen, Executive Director of the GBA, expressed her enthusiasm for the pilot programme’s success, stating: “We are thrilled with the results of the 2024 Battery Passport pilots and congratulate all participating organisations. This initiative demonstrates an unprecedented commitment to greater transparency and sustainability in the battery industry as captured in the 2030 GBA Vision.”
Beyond the battery passports, CATL has reinforced its commitment to environmental responsibility by establishing nine carbon-neutral production facilities and adopting innovative tools such as the Carbon Credit Management System (CCMS) and CREDIT. These initiatives underscore CATL’s drive to reduce its carbon footprint, promote sustainability, and advance best practices within the battery industry.
As a founding member of the GBA, CATL continues to support the Battery Passport initiative to encourage transparency, safety, and sustainability in battery production. The company’s efforts are aligned with the GBA’s overarching goal to establish global sustainability standards for the battery industry and bridge regulatory gaps, helping to pave the way for a greener future.
The successful completion of the Battery Passport pilots marks a significant step forward for the GBA and participating companies, demonstrating the collective commitment of global battery producers to prioritise sustainable and transparent practices across the battery value chain.