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Energy, Climate change, Environment
Environment

Batteries

Ensuring that batteries placed on the EU market are sustainable and circular throughout their whole life cycle.

Overview

A pile of neatly stacked batteries is shown
© Leonid Eremeychuk, Getty Images

Batteries are an indispensable energy source. They are also a key technology in the transition to climate neutrality and to a more circular economy.

Global demand for batteries is increasing rapidly and is set to increase 14 times by 2030. The EU could account for 17% of that demand.

On 17 August 2023, the new Batteries Regulation entered into force, which aims to minimise the environmental impact of this exponential growth in light of new socioeconomic conditions, technological developments, markets, and battery usages. 

A key achievement under the European Green Deal, the new law brings forward the circular economy and zero pollution ambitions of the EU and strengthens the EU’s strategic autonomy.

Objectives

EU rules on batteries aim to make batteries sustainable throughout their entire life cycle – from the sourcing of materials to their collection, recycling and repurposing.

In the current energy context, the new rules promote the development of a competitive, sustainable battery industry, which will support Europe’s clean energy transition and independence from fuel imports.

Law

Derogations

Article 11(2) of Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 establishes derogations from the removability and replaceability requirements for portable batteries incorporated in products.

The Commission Notice C/2025/214 on 8 January 2025 announced the regular publication of calls for application pursuant to the Commission’s empowerment in Article 11(4) to grant further derogations.    

Applicants interested in the granting of further derogations were invited to do so before 30 April 2025. The process is now closed.

On July 4 2025, the Commission published new rules for waste batteries that will calculate and verify the rates of recycling efficiency and recovery of materials. The aim is to boost the recycling and recovery of materials, especially critical and strategic raw materials. You can find more information on the rules here.

Implementation

The Commission will adopt delegated and implementing acts under the new Batteries Regulation from 2024 onwards.

Timeline

  1. 24 July 2025
    New rules for calculating and verifying rates of recycling efficiency enter into force

    Find out more

  2. 17 August 2023
    New Batteries Regulation enters into force

    Find out more

  3. 9 December 2020
    Commission adopts proposal for new rules on batteries

    Find out more about the proposal

  4. 6 September 2006
    Batteries Directive enters into force

Statistics

Eurostat provides access to detailed information on batteries and accumulators produced and waste generated.

Related

Contact

For questions about EU environmental policy, please contact Europe Direct.