CATL said it achieved carbon neutrality across its core operations by the end of 2025 and has begun implementing a strategy to reach carbon neutrality across its value chain by 2035. The world’s largest power battery maker said the next phase will focus primarily on reducing emissions throughout its supply chain.
CATL made the announcement at an Aug. 17 event in Ningde, Fujian province, where the company is headquartered. It said it was the first battery manufacturer to achieve carbon neutrality in core operations while operating at TWh-scale battery shipment volumes.
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CATL said 20 of its battery plants had received ISO 14068-1 certification as zero-carbon factories by the end of 2025.
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The company also said 100% of the electricity used in its core operations came from zero-carbon sources.
CATL produced 748 GWh of batteries in 2025, with sales 2.3 times higher than in 2022. The company said it had consumed more than 18 billion kWh of zero-carbon electricity since 2023.
Energy consumption per unit of output across its battery production bases declined 28% in 2025 compared with 2022. CATL also reported a roughly 77% reduction in carbon-emissions intensity over two years and cumulative emissions reductions of more than 10 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent.
Supply Chain Accounts for Most Product Emissions
CATL’s next challenge is the broader battery value chain.
The company said more than 80% of the lifecycle carbon emissions associated with its products originate in the supply chain. It estimated that total supply-chain emissions are more than five times those generated by its core operations.
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To address those emissions, CATL has developed a carbon-data traceability platform covering stages from mineral extraction and raw-material refining through material synthesis and component manufacturing.
The system is based on the company’s Carbon Chain Management System, or CCMS, which was launched in 2022.
CATL said the platform has calculated emissions using real-world carbon data from more than 100 core Tier 1 suppliers and has established more than 1,000 models covering products and raw materials.
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Bryan Huang, head of CATL’s procurement center, said the company plans to introduce Green Procurement Guidelines that incorporate carbon footprints, renewable-energy usage ratios and energy consumption per unit of output into supplier qualification and review processes.
CATL has also launched a Zero-Carbon Supply Chain Empowerment Initiative involving an initial group of 30 core suppliers.
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The company said the initiative is intended to deepen cooperation with suppliers on emissions reductions. CATL has also proposed creating a global zero-carbon ecosystem collaboration platform for the lithium battery industry.
At the Ningde event, CATL and suppliers of cathode materials, anode materials, current collectors and other components jointly launched an initiative targeting carbon neutrality across the battery value chain by 2035.
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CATL first announced its zero-carbon strategy in 2023, setting a target of achieving carbon neutrality in core operations by 2025 and across its value chain by 2035.
The company has also entered strategic cooperation agreements with the National Center for Climate Change Strategy and International Cooperation and the Shanghai Environment and Energy Exchange.
Robin Zeng, CATL’s chairman and CEO, said the development of a zero-carbon economy could create new opportunities for industrial growth. He also argued that technological advances are continuing to reduce the cost of renewable energy.
Jiang Li, CATL’s vice president and board secretary, said the company is formalising the methods, data and technical knowledge developed through its zero-carbon factory programme so they can potentially be replicated across the wider industry.
Battery Carbon Requirements Increasingly Affect Market Access
Carbon-footprint requirements are becoming increasingly relevant to battery manufacturers seeking access to overseas markets.
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The European Union has introduced requirements covering battery carbon-footprint declarations and emissions limits. For manufacturers such as CATL, reducing emissions beyond their own factories therefore increasingly involves both supply-chain management and compliance with emerging market requirements.
CATL’s 2035 target shifts the focus of its zero-carbon strategy from its own manufacturing operations to the broader network of suppliers and production processes that contribute to the lifecycle emissions of its batteries.