CATL and Ellen MacArthur Foundation Collaborate for a Circular Battery Future

CATL and Ellen MacArthur Foundation Collaborate for a Sustainable Future



During the recent London Climate Action Week, Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL) and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation announced a significant partnership aimed at accelerating the transition toward a circular economy in the battery sector. The goal is to separate the production of new batteries from the reliance on virgin raw materials, facilitating a future where accessibility, resilience, and sustainability coexist, and economic growth no longer hinges on extraction.

Since their strategic partnership began earlier this year, CATL and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation have been diligently exploring how to integrate circular economy principles across the entire battery value chain. This collaborative effort is envisioned as a guiding star for innovation and cooperation in the industry, offering insights not only for CATL but also for a wide array of global actors intent on redefining the current system for long-term success.

Ambitious Vision Presented



Jiang Li, the Vice President and Secretary of the Board of CATL, highlighted this ambitious vision during a high-level roundtable hosted by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. Experts deliberated on the necessary collaborations among research institutions, industries, and government stakeholders to realize this vision and identify essential elements for large-scale deployment.

CATL set a long-term directional goal: by 2040, 50% of new battery production should be decoupled from the use of virgin raw materials. This ambitious target will guide their exploration of circular models, partnerships, and innovations throughout the battery value chain.

As Jiang Li noted, the shift to a circular economy will unlock economic opportunities alongside environmental and social value. The global battery recycling market is predicted to exceed 1.2 trillion RMB (approximately 165 billion USD) by 2040, potentially generating over 10 million jobs, with more than half in developing countries.

Four Key Principles for Industry Transformation



At the core of this initiative are four practical principles derived from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's circular economy framework. These principles aim to steer industry transformation throughout the battery value chain, encompassing mining, manufacturing, mobility, and energy systems. They provide a foundation for enhanced alignment among key stakeholders to design collaborative actions that facilitate a more circular battery economy:

1. Rethinking Systems: A circular approach necessitates systemic change across the battery ecosystem. By embedding circularity at every phase of the value chain, it becomes feasible to promote low-carbon development, minimize waste, and ensure a continuous flow of materials, emphasizing efficient resource use.

2. Redesigning Products: Circularity begins with design. Batteries should be crafted with longevity, disassembly, and second-life applications in mind, utilizing modular architecture and durable components. By focusing on reuse and recycling, products can maintain their value longer and be recovered more efficiently at the end of their lifecycle.

3. Rethinking Business Models: New business models are vital for dissociating resource use from economic growth. Transitioning from traditional ownership to sharing, service, or second-life models can enhance utility and accessibility for users, fostering economically viable pathways for scaling circularity.

4. Recycling Materials: An effective recycling system is pivotal to circularity. Materials should be recaptured efficiently and redirected for high-value use, increasing the proportion of closed-loop recycling. This practice mitigates dependence on virgin resources and contributes to a more sustainable, secure supply of essential raw materials.

Practical Implementations by CATL



Jiang Li presented examples of CATL's implementation of these four pillars. At the system level, CATL has launched a carbon chain management system to aid in decarbonizing the battery value chain. In product design, CATL has significantly extended battery life, with energy storage solutions achieving up to 18,000 cycles, thereby reducing material demand and emissions.

Furthermore, CATL plans to deploy over 10,000 battery swapping stations, which will enhance battery efficiency and facilitate large-scale collection of end-of-life batteries. In recycling, CATL operates the world's largest battery take-back network, having recycled approximately 130,000 tons of end-of-life batteries in 2024 alone, recovering around 17,000 tons of lithium salts.

Driving Change Through the Global Energy Circularity Commitment



To test and develop this shared ambition in real-world scenarios, CATL has introduced the Global Energy Circularity Commitment (GECC), announced in March. The GECC serves as an open global platform uniting industry stakeholders, municipalities, and universities to experiment with circular economy solutions.

CATL's commitment through this platform aims to collaborate with value chain players to explore and exchange ideas that will amplify impact. This collective approach is essential for establishing a resilient and sustainable battery system.

Future Prospects



This shared ambition marks a starting point for cultivating new forms of collaboration, transparency, and systemic innovation within the global battery ecosystem. CATL and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation will continue to engage with public and private sector partners to refine, expand, and operationalize these ideas. "A circular battery system won't be built within a lab or conference room; it will take shape through collaboration, trials, and shared efforts," said Jiang Li. This ambition serves as a signal to progress this crucial work, highlighting the need for global cooperation, cross-sector learning, and open commitment throughout the value chain—principles long advocated by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.

Topics Energy)

【About Using Articles】

You can freely use the title and article content by linking to the page where the article is posted.
※ Images cannot be used.

【About Links】

Links are free to use.