EU Battery Regulation (EU 2023/1542) Raises the Bar for Sustainable Batteries

Stricter Rules, Smarter Batteries

The new EU Battery Regulation (EU 2023/1542), published on 17 August 2023, introduces a unified legal framework for the entire life cycle of batteries on the European market. Covering all types—from portable and SLI to LMT, EV, and industrial batteries—it sets higher standards for sustainability, safety, and circularity. The law applies to batteries both sold independently and those built into products.

Key Provisions at a Glance

The regulation puts forth comprehensive restrictions on hazardous substances, prohibiting or strictly limiting chemicals like lead, cadmium, and mercury. This approach goes beyond existing REACH regulation, targeting batteries of every category to reduce environmental and health risks throughout the battery life cycle.

To ensure longevity and reduce waste, mandatory performance and durability thresholds are established for EV, LMT, and industrial batteries. From February 2027, these batteries must meet minimum cycle-life and operational standards, directly addressing the issue of early obsolescence.

Another major innovation is the requirement for carbon footprint disclosure and labelling. For larger batteries—industrial, LMT, and EV with capacities above 2 kWh—manufacturers must calculate and publicly declare their products’ life-cycle carbon emissions. On-battery labels will become mandatory between 2027 and 2028, increasing transparency for consumers and industry.

Recycled content is a significant focus: from August 2024, manufacturers must report the percentages of recycled cobalt, lithium, nickel, and lead in their batteries, with progressively stricter binding targets arriving in 2031 and 2036. This is intended to drive demand for secondary raw materials and encourage a circular economy.

The regulation also imposes strict due diligence on sourcing of critical raw materials. Producers must demonstrate robust traceability and risk assessment measures for lithium, cobalt, nickel, and natural graphite to guarantee responsible, ethical, and environmentally sound supply chains.

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) rules are reinforced, raising collection and recycling targets for all waste batteries and holding producers accountable throughout the product’s life. The law further mandates a digital Battery Passport—a QR-coded label with detailed lifecycle data for eligible batteries—becoming compulsory from February 2027 to facilitate tracking, regulatory compliance, and second-life applications.

Implementation Timeline

What’s Next?

• Manufacturers: Align design and sourcing with recycled content and human rights due diligence.
• Recyclers: Upgrade processes to meet new EPR and digital passport standards.
• End-Users: Use new labels and data for more sustainable battery choices.

Sources & Citations

• Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 of 12 July 2023 on batteries and waste batteries (Official EUR-Lex text)
  https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/1542/oj/eng
• EU Monitor summary of Regulation 2023/1542
  https://www.eumonitor.eu/9353000/1/j9vvik7m1c3gyxp/vm56a5qeuvzl