#None #Munich #circular economy #CATL #IAA 2025

CATL Joins Industry Leaders at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation Forum 2025

In a standout event at the prestigious IAA 2025 exhibition, CATL, a global frontrunner in battery technology, demonstrated its commitment to sustainable practices in the automotive industry by supporting the Ellen MacArthur Foundation (EMF). This forum convened companies such as BASF, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz, among other key players in the battery production and sustainability sectors. Over a hundred representatives from various industries participated to explore strategies for implementing circular principles within the battery value chain, addressing the pressing need for policies and financial frameworks to accelerate the development of a circular economy.

The focus on circularity has become crucial, with stakeholders recognizing that sustainable mobility cannot be achieved without a closed-loop system for battery design, manufacturing, reuse, and recycling. CATL leveraged its experience through its Global Energy Circularity Commitment (GECC), sharing insights from its international projects and partnerships aimed at fostering a circular ecosystem.

Incorporating Circularity into Battery Development

The forum kicked off discussions on how circularity can be embedded right from the early stages of battery development, encompassing design, manufacturing, and necessary infrastructure. Panelists emphasized the importance of digital traceability, material transparency, and industrial collaboration as fundamental aspects of establishing a fully circular battery ecosystem. Jiang Li, Vice President and Secretary of the Board at CATL, highlighted the challenges and opportunities facing the industry. He stated, “For circularity to be implemented on a large scale, the industry needs clear standards and aligned political and financial frameworks. By collaborating with more partners, we are building an ecosystem that ensures batteries will be more resilient, safer, and sustainable for decades to come.”

Daniel Schönfelder, President of Battery Materials Division at BASF, discussed the significance of sustainable cathode materials and the necessity of industrial collaboration. Jens Rubi, Head of Circularity at Mercedes-Benz, emphasized integrating circular principles into automobile manufacturers' strategies. Insights were shared by Oliver Ganser, Vice President of Digitalization at BMW, regarding the utilization of the Catena-X platform as an inter-industrial digital resource for data exchange, fostering transparency and traceability within supply chains.

Panelists concurred that a circular battery ecosystem cannot emerge without a coordinated approach from manufacturers, suppliers, and technology partners. Collaborative efforts at each stage of the value chain are critical to fostering effective circularity in practice.

Advancing Circular Batteries Through Smart Policy and Financing

The second part of the forum focused on the tools necessary for expanding circularity within the global battery ecosystem, emphasizing regulatory frameworks, financial mechanisms, and standardized approaches. Panelists explored how aligning regulations, building investor trust, and leveraging instruments like Battery Passport could create transparent and comparable metrics across jurisdictions, allowing for practical implementation of circular practices on a large scale. Emma Nerenheim, Executive Director of the European Battery Alliance, stressed the urgency of a consolidated approach, stating, "We talk a lot about collaboration; I want to emphasize that the right word is consolidation. It is immensely difficult to understand how this issue will be resolved (for recyclers). Therefore, we need to consolidate now."

Inga Petersen, Executive Director and Board Member of the Global Battery Alliance, further underscored the necessity of a harmonized global approach towards circularity, stating, "We must place great emphasis on ensuring a level playing field globally and view the world battery ecosystem as a whole. There exists a real risk of fragmentation, where high compliance demands and stringent standards in some markets may stifle sustainability and recycling efforts in developing countries. We genuinely need to establish common minimum standards for batteries to align with sustainability metrics and access capital."

Other panelists provided complementary perspectives, with Zoe Zhang, a critical minerals analyst at Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, offering insights on supply chain risks and the importance of transparent data for investors. Amy Marshall, Executive Director at Xynteo, spoke about partnerships among multiple actors and about systemic transformations paving the way towards circularity.

The forum marked the first official gathering of partners within EMF’s Critical Materials program, launched in June 2025. CATL expressed an ambitious goal that within 20 years, up to 50% of new battery production could operate without relying on primary raw materials. Looking ahead, CATL aims to continue collaborating with EMF and industry partners on pilot projects and comprehensive solutions across the value chain to support a sustainable and equitable circular battery ecosystem.