CATL Highlights Circular Economy Collaboration at IAA 2025 with Ellen MacArthur Foundation

On September 11, 2025, at the IAA 2025 in Munich, CATL announced its significant role in supporting the Ellen MacArthur Foundation (EMF) by organizing a high-profile forum attended by industry leaders from BASF, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz, among others. The event gathered over 100 representatives from diverse economic sectors to collectively explore pathways to achieve circularity in the battery value chain and promote political and financial collaboration aimed at scaling the circular economy.

The theme of circularity emerged prominently during the opening of this prestigious automotive exhibition, reflecting an increasing recognition that sustainable mobility is fundamentally linked to establishing a closed-loop system in the design, production, reuse, repurposing, and recycling of batteries. CATL showcased its commitment to the Global Energy Circularity Commitment (GECC) and shared practical insights derived from its international operations and partnerships.

The Imperative of Circular Design in Battery Manufacturing

The forum kicked off with discussions focused on how circular principles can be integrated from the earliest stages of battery development, encompassing design, production, and the supporting infrastructure. Panelists emphasized the importance of digital traceability, material use transparency, and collaborative manufacturing practices as critical elements in establishing a truly closed battery ecosystem.

Jiang Li, CATL's Vice President and Secretary of the Board, acknowledged both the challenges ahead and the opportunities that arise from adopting these principles. He stated, "To achieve widespread adoption of circular principles, the industry requires clear standards and aligned political and financial frameworks. As more partners join us, we collaboratively work towards creating an ecosystem that makes batteries economically sustainable, safe, and environmentally friendly for decades to come."

Daniel Schönfelder from BASF highlighted the role of sustainable cathode materials and industrial collaboration, while Jens Rubi from Mercedes-Benz pointed out the importance of integrating circularity into Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) strategies. Oliver Ganser from BMW introduced Catena-X, an inter-industry digital platform aimed at enhancing data sharing in the automotive sector for supply chain transparency and traceability.

The conversations underscored that building a closed-loop lifecycle ecosystem for batteries necessitates coordinated actions from manufacturers, suppliers, and technology partners, stressing that collaboration at every stage of the value chain is crucial for scaling and practical applicability of circular principles.

Policy Tools Needed for Scaling Circularity

The second discussion centered on the necessary levers to scale circularity within the global battery ecosystem, focusing on policy frameworks, funding mechanisms, and standardized approaches. Participants explored how aligning regulatory requirements, building investor trust, and initiatives like the “Battery Passport” could foster transparent and comparable standards across jurisdictions, enabling practical large-scale implementation of the circular economy.

Emma Nerenheim, Managing Director of the European Battery Alliance, expressed the urgency of coordinated actions, stressing that consolidation rather than mere cooperation is essential moving forward. Inga Petersen from the Global Battery Alliance also called for a unified global approach to circularity, warning against fragmentation that could hinder developing markets from meeting sustainability and recycling standards.

Various other speakers contributed to the dialogue, including Zoe Zhang, a critical minerals analyst, who discussed supply chain risks and the importance of transparent data for investors. Amy Marshall from Xynteo spoke on multi-stakeholder partnerships and system transformations necessary for realizing circularity.

This forum marked the first official assembly of partners under the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's Critical Minerals Program, launched earlier in June. Here, CATL set forth its ambitious goal to detach from primary raw materials by achieving a 50% production of new batteries from recycled sources within the next 20 years. CATL is poised to continue collaboration with EMF and industry partners in pilot projects and solutions along the entire value chain, promoting a sustainable and equitable ecosystem for closed-loop life cycle batteries.

In conclusion, the discussions at the IAA 2025 underscore the pressing need for the battery industry to embrace circularity as a fundamental principle, driving efforts towards sustainable development and innovative collaborations that can reshape the future of mobility.