Wednesday 29 January 2020

Businesses agree on principles for creation of sustainable battery chain by 2030

A total of 42 organisations from a wide range of different sectors have agreed on a set of principles for the creation of a sustainable battery chain by 2030.

The Global Battery Alliance unveiled the principles at the World Economic Forum 2020, suggesting batteries will be a "major driver" in reducing the carbon footprint of the transport and power sectors by facilitating the adoption of renewable energy sources and electric vehicles (EVs).

It notes this must be achieved in a sustainable way and has set out ten guidelines to help companies and governments ensure this is the case - they include maximising the productivity of batteries, enabling a productive and safe second life use, ensuring battery materials can be recovered for the circular economy and working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions transparently.

The principles also highlight the importance of prioritising energy efficiency measures, increasing use of renewable power, fostering battery-enabled renewable energy integration, creating skilled jobs, eliminating child and forced labour, protecting health and the environment and supporting responsible trade practices.

The 42 organisations that agreed upon the measures include mining, chemicals, battery, automotive and energy businesses such as Volvo, Enel, UNICEF, Honda and Volkswagen.

Dominic Waughray, Managing Director of the World Economic Forum, said: "We all need batteries to power the clean revolution. However, we must ensure violations of human rights do not occur anywhere in the value chain, that local communities benefit and that battery production is sustainable.

"These guiding principles are an important first step to build a value chain that can deliver on this promise while supporting societies and economies at the same time."