CATL and Ellen MacArthur Foundation Establish Strategic Partnership to Drive Battery Circular Economy

Photo Credit: CATL

Recently, Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. (CATL) announced its strategic partnership with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation in Amsterdam, marking the beginning of a global collaboration to advance the circular economy in battery technology. As the first renewable energy innovation technology company to join the Foundation’s strategic network, CATL is spearheading the Global Energy Recycling Initiative, focusing on the development of a circular economy in the battery industry.

According to CATL, this initiative will include systematic research on battery circularity and the construction of a global ecological network for sharing cutting-edge practices and technologies in battery recycling. The partnership will also explore different transformation paths for battery circular economy in various regions and work towards creating model cities for battery recycling. CATL highlighted that this project is the world’s first circular economy public welfare project initiated by a Chinese enterprise, marking the increasing role of Chinese companies in the global energy transition.

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation, a leader in the global circular economy movement, has long been dedicated to fostering collaboration across various sectors to drive systemic change. Its efforts bring together businesses, academic institutions, policymakers, and research organizations to address pressing global challenges such as climate change and biodiversity loss, ultimately paving the way for a more sustainable economic model that benefits both humanity and nature.

CATL says its involvement in the circular economy is rooted in its comprehensive approach to managing the entire lifecycle of batteries: from design, production, and usage to second-life applications, recycling, and resource regeneration. “For CATL, the circular economy is not just a responsibility but also a driving force for innovation,” said Sandy Song, global lead for the circular economy of CATL. “Every battery should be seen as the starting point of energy recycling, not its end.”

Speaking at the Foundation’s annual Network event in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, Dennis Pan, Chief Sustainability Officer of CATL, emphasized the critical importance of designing batteries with recyclability in mind. CATL says it has adopted a zero-carbon strategy to prioritize using reusable and renewable materials and facilitate recycling. In 2024, CATL recycled about 130,000 tons of used batteries to produce 17,000 tons of lithium salt.

Joe Murphy, head of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s collaboration network, stated, “The rapid expansion of renewable energy and the acceleration of electrification have created unprecedented opportunities for the development of battery circularity. We are thrilled to work alongside CATL to advance the global battery energy circular economy.”

At this critical moment in the global energy transition, the battery industry plays a pivotal role in supporting the electrification process and achieving climate goals. As the global battery recycling economy matures, CATL is committed to collaborating with leading organizations and enterprises worldwide to accelerate technological innovation and the practical application of circular economy principles, contributing to a sustainable future.