10 March New EU battery regulation sets course for circular economy

Strasbourg, 09.03.22. Today, the European Parliament voted on the new Battery Regulation. MEP Manuela Ripa (ÖDP), who served as shadow rapporteur for the Industry Committee and for critical raw materials in the International Trade Committee, commented: "This law will make progress in two fundamental areas: It increases recycling rates for batteries and metals - which is a big step towards a circular economy; and it implements strong rules on due diligence in the value chain - which protects our environment and the people along the battery production chain."

The Battery Regulation is part of the package of measures of the EU Circular Economy Action Plan. Batteries that are more sustainable over their entire life cycle are crucial to achieving the goals of the European Green Deal and contribute to the zero-pollution target set therein. "Only with sustainably produced batteries and a reduction in primary raw material consumption can a globally equitable raw materials transition be heralded. This is all the more important as batteries are set to play a decisive role in the mobility transition," says Manuela Ripa.

Resource efficiency and recycling efficiency should go hand in hand. The entire complexity of the supply chain must be considered and the global context must be kept in mind. Far too many finite resources are being consumed today. Although progress has been made with individual raw materials, they are used in excessive quantities in batteries. Their procurement is neither environmentally friendly nor compliant with human rights. "The extraction of raw materials must be carried out in compliance with human rights and environmental standards and must not endanger nature conservation areas," the MEP points out.

It was therefore a great success, among other things, to extend the due diligence obligations for human rights and ecology to the entire value chain - this includes not only all batteries and materials, but also waste treatment. "We have also succeeded in restricting the use of toxic substances in batteries," says Manuela Ripa, who is particularly committed to environmental and consumer protection in her work. She goes on to emphasize: "For real recycling of all raw materials, we also need a better collection system for all batteries and better product design. After all, recycling starts at the manufacturing stage and must be considered holistically." The ÖDP politician's demand is therefore: Europe must become a leader in the circular economy!

In order to strengthen European industry and remain competitive on the global market in the future, some raw material extraction and production will be relocated to Europe. Ripa clearly warns that environmental and species protection - worldwide and in Europe - must not be ignored, especially when building new battery factories: "In the fight against climate change, we must not be blind to both the loss of biodiversity and soil and water protection - as we are currently experiencing in Germany with the new Tesla Gigafactory in Brandenburg."

Instead, the MP calls for building on the abundant brownfield sites available instead of irrevocably destroying farmland, forests or water protection areas. "To be sustainable, we need to think holistically and sustainably. This legislative proposal is a good first step in this direction. Now it is important that it is not watered down in the negotiations with the Council and therefore with the Member States," concluded Ripa.