CATL, the world's largest EV battery manufacturer, has announced a major international initiative aimed at creating unified global standards for battery design, use, repair and recycling. The project was unveiled during London Climate Action Week and brings together industry leaders including Google, BMW, Xiaomi, Renault and Volvo.
The initiative will result in the publication of the Battery Circular Design Guide in 2027, establishing common guidelines for battery design, diagnostics, safe disassembly, refurbishment and recycling.
One standard for the global industry
The new framework will enable manufacturers to assess battery health using common methodologies, improving transparency regarding battery history, degradation and remaining lifespan. This will simplify battery valuation and support the growing used EV market.
The project is coordinated by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, a leading advocate of the circular economy.
Recycling takes center stage
According to CATL, raw material extraction and processing account for the majority of battery-related carbon emissions. As a result, the company continues expanding the use of recycled materials.
The use of secondary raw materials has already reduced the carbon footprint of battery components by approximately 32%. Meanwhile, CATL's subsidiary Brunp recycled around 210,000 tonnes of used batteries during 2025, recovering 99.6% of valuable metals.
Battery swapping expands into Europe
CATL is also working with Octopus Energy to build a battery swapping network for commercial electric vehicles across Europe.
The technology has already proven successful in China, where heavy-duty electric trucks can travel up to 1,250 km using strategically located battery swap stations.
Greener manufacturing
Since 2022, CATL has completed more than 1,000 energy-efficiency projects, reducing carbon emission intensity by 77%. All of the company's battery manufacturing facilities have already achieved carbon neutrality.
