Life cycle of a battery
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12.03.2024 New publication: FAQ regarding the corporate due diligence in the EU Batteries Regulation
The new Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 (External link) concerning batteries and waste batteries, amending Directive 2008/98/EC and Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 and repealing Directive 2006/66/EC (EU Batteries Regulation), which was adopted in summer 2023, is the first supply chain regulation that considers the entire supply chain and the complete life cycle of a battery - from mine to recycling. The EU Batteries Regulation repeals the EU Batteries Directive (206/66/EC), which focused primarily on the disposal and recycling of batteries.
The key objectives of the EU Batteries Regulation include strengthening the EU internal market, reducing environmental and social risks at all stages of the battery life cycle and promoting a circular economy. In order to achieve these objectives, the EU Batteries Regulation includes corporate due diligence obligations for the supply chains of the minerals cobalt, natural graphite, lithium and nickel required for batteries, as well as for their chemical compounds.
Relevant content of the EU Batteries Regulation regarding development policy
From August 2025, large economic operators offering batteries on the market or putting them into service in the EU as well as public procurers must comply with the human rights and environmental due diligence obligations set out in the EU Batteries Regulation for their entire battery supply chains. The due diligence obligations set out in the EU Batteries Regulation include the creation and publication of a strategy for the raw materials used in batteries, the establishment of a system of controls and transparency, and the introduction of a complaints mechanism as an early warning system for risk detection amongst others.
Find out more about the corporate due diligence obligations set out in the EU Batteries Regulation in our FAQ!
If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Wibke Crewett (External link) (Project lead, BGR) and Rosalie Seppelt (External link) (Policy Advisor, GIZ).