The automotive industry is undergoing a digital transformation, and data is at the heart of it. Collaborative efforts, such as those by the Global Battery Alliance (GBA) and Catena-X, are pioneering the development of digital product passports to enhance transparency, regulatory compliance, and innovation within the battery industry.
Digital product passports: a step towards sustainable batteries
Digital product passports serve as comprehensive digital records detailing a battery鈥檚 entire lifecycle. These passports provide critical information, including carbon footprint data, material composition, sourcing details, and recyclability potential. By leveraging secure data-sharing platforms, stakeholders across the supply chain can access and contribute to this information, facilitating informed decision-making and promoting sustainable practices.
Collaborative initiatives driving the effort for battery passport
The GBA has been instrumental in conceptualising and launching battery passport proof-of-concept pilots. In 2023, during the World Economic Forum鈥檚 Annual Meeting in Davos, the GBA introduced the world鈥檚 first battery passport pilots, the completing the second wave of pilots in 2024 marked a significant milestone in the journey towards transparent battery value chains. These pilots aim to establish harmonised rules for sustainability indicators, data sharing and collaboration across the automotive value chain, integrating manufacturers, suppliers, and technology partners to enhance transparency, efficiency, and sustainability in production and supply chain processes.
In parallel, Catena-X is developing an open ecosystem designed to create a data-driven network for the automotive industry. This initiative focuses on establishing standardised data sharing and collaboration across the automotive value chain, integrating manufacturers, suppliers, and technology partners to enhance transparency, efficiency, and sustainability in production and supply chain processes.
Driving circular economy and regulatory compliance
The integration of digital product passports into battery supply chains supports the promotion of a circular economy by ensuring materials can be efficiently recovered, reused, and repurposed. This approach not only improves waste management but also aligns with evolving regulatory requirements, such as the EU Battery Regulation, which mandates stringent sustainability and transparency standards for batteries placed on the European market.
Associated SDG targets
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