GS1 and GS1 in Europe recently signed an MoU with the Global Battery Alliance to develop the EU product passport for batteries. 
 

The EU Green Deal and Circular Economy Plan have a global impact on industry because they involve a new economic model that can't be implemented only in one region. The EU has clarified which sectors have been prioritised and that it is drafting horizontal plus sector specific legislation introducing new circular data requirements. 

The first sector is represented by batteries including electrical vehicles, industrial and portable ones. Given the important role they play in the rollout of zero-emission mobility and the storage of intermittent renewable energy, batteries are a crucial element. 

The Global Battery Alliance, GS1 and GS1 in Europe agreed on an MoU, signed on 20th May to deliver a digital product passport. 

Additionally, a Battery Passport will become one key enabler in the EU's transition to a climate neutral economy. The new EU regulation on sustainable batteries is meant to modernise the EU's regulatory framework of batteries to secure the sustainability and competitiveness of battery value chains. 

It introduces mandatory requirements on sustainability such as carbon footprint rules, minimum recycled content, performance and durability criteria, safety and labelling for the marketing and putting into service of batteries, and requirements for end-of-life management. The proposal also includes due diligence obligations for economic operators as regards the sourcing of raw materials.
 

GS1 open standard will be a technical foundation for the above mentioned  aspects to unambiguously identify individual batteries and their components. The sustainability information will be attached to this set of master data and accompany the entire battery life until the final recovery of materials fed back into the next product cycle.

The implementation will proceed stepwise. The core will be a limited set of data comprising of identifiers and static data to trace the materials and components into the battery. Subsequently, information reporting a GHG footprint and Child Labor compliance will be added to the core while adding further parameters to comprehensively cover relevant ESG KPI.

GBA and GS1 in Europe are holding regular meetings to develop the GBA Battery passport for batteries. If you are a GS1 MO colleague and you are willing to join please contact us.