Powering the Future 2025

Conclusion The world is at an inflection point in the transition to electrified transport, and the decisions made today will affect the way people and goods move for decades to come. Now is the time to diverge from business as usual and accelerate efforts to build a battery value chain that minimizes environmental harm, capitalizes on the opportunities at hand, and centres around equity. Now is the time to build a circular battery economy. It is often said that necessity is the mother of invention. Pressing concerns surrounding today’s battery value chain, particularly its social and environmental impacts, are spurring an increasing number of stakeholders to explore how they can address these challenges by advancing a circular battery economy. Through collaboration with an expert advisory panel and extensive research, this report proposes actionable recommendations that can help guide them. By developing standardized, interoperable platforms for tracking and tracing battery materials, setting design and performance standards, and using targeted policy interventions, stakeholders can manage batteries more responsibly throughout their life cycle. Additionally, fostering regional circular value chains and facilitating responsible cross-border movement of materials will enhance value-chain resilience and reduce environmental impacts. Importantly, investments in workforce development will ensure a just transition for workers impacted by this shift. Implementing these recommendations will unlock the full potential of a circular battery economy, benefiting businesses, the environment and communities globally. As this report shows, the challenges in implementing a circular battery economy are not small, but they are surmountable. A resilient, responsible battery value chain that enables the EV transition, respects human rights and protects the environment is within reach. Powering the Future: Overcoming Battery Supply Chain Challenges with Circularity 35