European Commission
Research and innovation
RMIS – Raw Materials Information System
environment   life cycle assessment   footprint   sustainability   
European Platform on Life Cycle Assessment (EPLCA)

European Platform on Life Cycle Assessment (EPLCA)

The European Union is making significant strides in advancing the sustainability and environmental responsibility of its metals industry, with a particular focus on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodologies. These efforts are critical in addressing the environmental impacts of metals from extraction to end-of-life, aligning with the EU's Green Deal and broader sustainability goals.

The European Platform on Life Cycle Assessment (EPLCA) aims to facilitate the use of LCA for sustainable product policies across the EU. The hub provides access to data, methodologies, tools, and case studies on LCA. Explore the EPLCA and its resources here.

Understanding Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Environmental Footprint (EF)

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a comprehensive method for assessing environmental impacts associated with all stages of a product's life. LCA methodologies identifies these impacts, fostering sustainable practices in mining, manufacturing, and recycling, and supporting the industry's move towards a more sustainable and circular economy.

The Environmental Footprint (EF) in the EU is a standardized measure assessing the environmental impacts of products and organizations across their life cycle. Initiated by the European Commission, it aims to reduce environmental impacts, encourage sustainable production and consumption, and provide clear, comparable information for consumers. The EF includes both the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) and the Organisation Environmental Footprint (OEF), covering a wide range of environmental indicators to ensure comprehensive evaluations.

In the field of raw materials, it involves assessing and managing the environmental impacts associated with the life cycle of mineral or metal production and use, which includes the extraction, processing, manufacturing, use, and recycling or disposal of metals, aiming to reduce their overall environmental impact through sustainable practices and policies.

Towards a cleaner Battery Industry

Reducing the impact of electric vehicle batteries on the environment and promoting a transition to a greener, more circular economy is of higher priority for the Union.

The JRC provides technical support to the development of sustainable practices in the battery industry, demonstrating the real-world impact and benefits of these practices in the industry, that includes energy efficiency and recycling processes.

Among the work, The Carbon Footprint of Industrial batteries (CFB-IND), focusing on industrial batteries, introduces the new Batteries Regulation, which mandates the declaration of the carbon footprint for certain categories of batteries, including EV batteries. This regulation aims to ensure the sustainability, safety, and recycling efficiency of batteries amid their increasing deployment, especially in mobility.

The work expands to a detailed methodological guidelines for calculating the Carbon Footprint of Electric Vehicle Batteries (CFB-EV), building upon the Environmental Footprint (EF) method and relevant PEFCRs. It specifies functional units for various types of EV batteries, system boundaries that exclude the use phase but include raw material acquisition, manufacturing, and end-of-life stages, as well as detailed modelling requirements for electricity, allocation, and end-of-life treatment.

Safer and sustainable electric vehicles

The JRC develop work to ensure that only the sustainable, “green” and safe batteries are placed on the European market, reducing the environmental and societal impacts of battery materials sourcing, production and use including re-use and recycling.

The Battery Testing Laboratory features state-of-the-art equipped facilities for analysing performance of battery materials and cells. Explore its resources here and check out the video on safer batteries for EV.

 

Resources and Further Reading