CATL, Ellen MacArthur Foundation Push for Circular Economy

CATL, Ellen MacArthur Foundation Push for Circular Economy

Chinese battery giant CATL and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation have unveiled a joint ambition to accelerate the transition to a circular battery economy, aiming to decouple new battery production from the use of virgin raw materials.

Speaking at a high-level panel during London Climate Action Week, CATL Vice President Jiang Li outlined a long-term goal: that by 2045, half of new batteries could be produced without extracting fresh raw materials. The target, Jiang said, is intended to guide industry collaboration, innovation and systems change across the battery value chain.

The initiative comes as both organisations deepen a strategic partnership formed earlier this year to explore how circular economy principles can be applied from mining and manufacturing to recycling and second-life use.

At the heart of the plan are four key principles adapted from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s framework: rethink systems, redesign products, rethink business models, and recycle materials.

CATL shared examples of its own implementation, including launching a carbon chain management system, extending battery life to up to 18,000 cycles, deploying 10,000 battery swap stations, and recycling 130,000 tonnes of used batteries in 2024 alone—recovering 17,000 tonnes of lithium salts.

The battery value chain, Jiang added, could support over 10 million jobs by 2040, over half in developing countries, while the global battery recycling market is projected to exceed ¥1.2 trillion (US$165 billion).

The ambition will also be piloted through CATL’s Global Energy Circularity Commitment (GECC), a new open platform announced in March, aimed at testing circular economy practices on the ground.

“A circular battery system will be built not in boardrooms, but through open collaboration and real-world testing,” Jiang said. “Our ambition is a starting signal to drive that collective effort forward.”