Battery Passport

Last updated: 4 April 2026

Battery Passport is a digital record of a battery's composition, origin, carbon footprint, and recycling requirements. Required under EU Battery Regulation.

Last reviewed by Marcus Williams on 23 March 2026

What's a Battery Passport?

A Battery Passport is a digital record that tracks the composition, origin, carbon footprint, and recycling requirements of batteries throughout their lifecycle. This system is mandated by the EU Battery Regulation, which came into force in January 2024.

According to the World Economic Forum, e-waste is the fastest-growing waste stream globally.

The concept behind a Battery Passport aims to make the battery supply chain more transparent and sustainable. Battery Passport requires manufacturers to collect detailed data about each battery they produce or import, including information on raw materials, manufacturing processes, energy sources used during production, and how the product will be recycled at the end of its life. This information is then stored in a digital database that stakeholders can access.

For example, when you buy an electric bike with a lithium-ion battery, the manufacturer must provide data about the battery's environmental impact, such as greenhouse gas emissions from mining and production. Battery Passport also need to detail how much cobalt or nickel was used and where it came from, ensuring traceability and accountability in sourcing raw materials.

This matters because consumers want to know they're purchasing products that align with their values regarding sustainability and ethical practices. Businesses, too, benefit by being able to demonstrate compliance with regulations and market demands for eco-friendly products. The Battery Passport also encourages better waste management as companies must plan how to recycle or dispose of batteries responsibly from the outset.

According to the Apple Environmental Report 2024, apple recovered over 1 tonne of gold from recycled devices in 2023.

Related concepts include Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), which holds manufacturers accountable for the end-of-life disposal of their products, and Circular Economy principles that promote reusing materials rather than discarding them.

According to a report by the International Energy Agency, global demand for lithium-ion batteries is expected to grow sevenfold over the next decade. As this growth continues, initiatives like the Battery Passport become increasingly important in managing environmental impacts effectively.

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