The EU Battery Regulation (EUBR) applies to all batteries placed on the EU market, whether sold on their own or built into products. It groups batteries into five categories:
From sourcing of raw materials through manufacturing, use, reuse and end-of-life, the Regulation introduces requirements that affect product design, data systems, supply-chain management and recycling operations.
One of the most important innovations is the introduction of a carbon-footprint framework for EV, LMT and rechargeable industrial batteries above 2 kWh. This will be phased in through three steps:
The regulation sets mandatory minimum shares of recovered metals in the active materials of certain battery types.
16 % cobalt
85 % lead
6 % lithium
6 % nickel
26 % cobalt
85 % lead
12 % lithium
15 % nickel
From February 2027, EV, LMT, and industrial batteries over 2 kWh must have a digital battery passport, accessible via a QR code. This passport will contain information on:
The Regulation also tackles one of the key barriers to circularity: batteries that are hard or impossible to remove. By 18 February 2027:
These requirements are intended to support repair, refurbishment, safety and second-life use, and to prevent valuable batteries from being lost inside products that are discarded too early.
For companies above defined turnover thresholds, the EUBR introduces mandatory supply-chain due diligence for critical raw materials including cobalt, lithium, nickel and natural graphite. This includes:
The Regulation significantly raises expectations for what happens when batteries reach the end of their life. For portable batteries, collection targets will rise to:
For LMT batteries, collection targets will be:
Recyclers must also meet stricter requirements for recycling efficiency and material recovery for cobalt, lithium, nickel, copper and lead. At the same time, the Regulation actively supports repurposing and second-life applications, helping extend battery lifetimes and reduce pressure on virgin raw materials.
Minimum performance and durability standards will be introduced for rechargeable industrial batteries over 2 kWh and later for portable batteries of general use. This ensures that batteries placed on the EU market deliver longer lifetimes and reliable real-world performance. Specific safety requirements also apply to stationary battery energy storage systems (SBESS), reflecting their growing role in Europe’s energy transition.
Extended producer responsibility (EPR) remains at the core of EU battery policy, but the EUBR creates a more harmonised and enforceable framework applicable from 18 August 2025. Producers must:
These obligations are backed by stronger market-surveillance powers, increasing the importance of compliance and accurate reporting.
