CATL has participated in all three waves of the Global Battery Alliance (GBA) Battery Passport pilot programme, according to the company. The latest phase involved cell manufacturers representing nearly 80% of global battery production capacity, as the alliance prepares to introduce a full certification scheme in early 2027.
The Battery Passport initiative aims to establish a common framework for recording and verifying environmental, social and governance (ESG) information throughout a battery’s lifecycle. CATL said its latest submission covered data across the supply chain, from mining and refining to materials production, cell manufacturing and battery-pack assembly.
Battery Passport Tracks Supply Chain ESG Data
The GBA Battery Passport pilot is designed to help battery manufacturers measure and communicate sustainability performance using a shared methodology. By covering multiple stages of production, the framework aims to improve transparency around the environmental and social impacts associated with battery supply chains.
CATL participated in the alliance’s first proof of concept in January 2023. During the second wave, the company sought separate battery passports for its Shenxing battery and cell-to-pack battery products, with the reported results reviewed by an independent auditor.
The latest phase extended the scope of CATL’s reporting to include ESG information from upstream raw material extraction and refining through downstream battery production.
Dennis Pan, Head of Sustainable Development at CATL, said:
“The GBA Battery Passport pilot program provides an effective methodology for the industry to monitor, quantify and demonstrate ESG performance across the battery value chain. It helps the industry better prepare for future sustainability risks and challenges.”
EU Battery Passport Requirements Approach
The development of the GBA framework comes ahead of new European Union requirements for digital battery passports. From February 2027, digital passports will be required for electric vehicle batteries covered by the EU rules.
The passports are intended to make specified battery information available digitally, supporting traceability and transparency across the battery lifecycle. Manufacturers with comprehensive and verifiable supply chain data will need systems to collect, manage and communicate the required information.
The GBA’s pilot programme is intended to establish a common approach to sustainability data before its certification scheme becomes fully available.
GBA Prepares for Certification in 2027
CATL said its participation across all three pilot waves distinguishes it from other battery manufacturers. The company also reports that its core operations are carbon neutral and has set a target of achieving carbon neutrality across its value chain by 2035.
Inga Petersen, Executive Director of the Global Battery Alliance, said:
“CATL has been a committed participant in the GBA Battery Passport initiative from the very beginning, helping us translate an ambitious vision into a practical framework for greater transparency and accountability across global battery value chains,” said Inga Petersen, Executive Director of the Global Battery Alliance. “As we prepare to make the GBA Battery Passport certification scheme fully available in early 2027, we are moving from operational trials to full-scale implementation. We look forward to CATL’s continued leadership in this next phase, helping demonstrate how verified sustainability performance can become a meaningful differentiator in global battery markets.”
The GBA plans to make its Battery Passport certification scheme fully available in early 2027. The transition from pilot testing to certification is intended to provide a more consistent approach to assessing battery sustainability and communicating relevant information across international supply chains.