Johnson Matthey joins Global Battery Alliance

Johnson Matthey, the global leader in sustainable technologies and battery cathode materials innovator, has joined 41 other global organisations in the Global Battery Alliance in agreeing the principles to help establish a sustainable battery value chain.

Batteries will be a major driver in reducing the carbon footprint of the transport and power sectors through the use of electric vehicles and renewable energy. To help companies and governments, the Global Battery Alliance designed ten guiding principles for the creation of a sustainable battery chain by 2030.

These principles are intended as the first step in a responsible, sustainable battery value chain as set out in the Global Battery Alliance's “A Vision for a Sustainable Battery Value Chain in 2030”. Implementing commitments will be based on existing standards such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)'s Due Diligence Guidance and economically viable considerations for a circular and low carbon economy.

JM is one of 42 organisations, including businesses from mining, chemicals, battery, automotive and energy industries, representing annual revenue of close to a trillion dollars, along with international organisations and global NGOs, that have agreed on the 10 guiding principles at this year's meeting of the World Economic Forum.

They include maximising the productivity of batteries, enabling a productive and safe second life use, circular recovery of battery materials, ensuring transparency of greenhouse gas emissions and their progressive reduction, prioritising energy efficiency measures and increasing the use of renewable energy, fostering battery-enabled renewable energy integration, high quality job creation and skills development, eliminating child and forced labour, protecting public health and the environment and supporting responsible trade and anti-corruption practices, local value creation and economic diversification.

“Johnson Matthey is very pleased to support the 10 principles of the GBA, which underpin our company's vision to build a cleaner, healthier world. This a key milestone for the battery community as we align to deliver common objectives that will power a sustainable energy transition in a way that safeguards and benefits the whole supply chain and the planet. JM is fully committed to working together with the GBA on these critically important efforts,” said Robert MacLeod, Chief Executive of Johnson Matthey.

“As we continue to build to the commercialisation of our ultra high energy density, next generation high nickelate battery cathode material eLNO, it's exciting to see and be a part of real, broad based commitment to establishing a genuinely sustainable value chain for batteries. Technology developments like the ones provided by eLNO are crucial driving a positive change, but it's equally important we ensure the whole supply chain is delivering a real difference for people and planet,” said Christian Günther, Sector Chief Executive, Battery Materials at Johnson Matthey

This alignment among key players in the battery market establishes the basis for a transparent accountability system. It will guide the development of a global digital battery information disclosure system referred to as the “Battery Passport”, which is designed to enable a transparent value chain, for example, with respect to human rights and the environmental footprint.