CATL Delivers On Carbon Neutrality Promises

Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL) achieved its 2025 target of carbon neutrality across core operations as scheduled, with all 20 battery plants certified as carbon neutral, and unveiled its action roadmap toward full value-chain carbon neutrality by 2035. This signals that decarbonization has evolved from a corporate social responsibility to a core growth driver for CATL.

CATL is the world’s largest maker of lithium-ion batteries. It builds power systems for electric vehicles (EVs) and large energy storage systems for power grids.

At a launch event held in Ningde, China, the company also called on global partners to accelerate decarbonization across the battery value chain. It announced procurement guidelines requiring suppliers to provide carbon footprint data from 2027 and offered favorable terms to suppliers with better carbon emission performance.

“Before contributing to global carbon rules and standards, CATL must first prove what is possible through our own industrial practice,” said Robin Zeng, chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of CATL. “As the world ramps up efforts toward net-zero, zero-carbon batteries will not be a choice but a necessity in the near future. We are ready to share our technologies and experience with partners across the industry, helping to shape global carbon standards and advance industry-wide decarbonization.”

Since commissioning its first battery factory in 2012, CATL has explored and validated every aspect of zero-carbon manufacturing, work that has become deeply embedded in the company’s operations.

“Carbon neutrality cannot be built on estimates alone,” said Jiang Li, vice president, board secretary, and head of the Corporate Sustainable Development Management Committee at CATL. “It requires reliable data, clear boundaries and systematic execution.”

To build this data foundation, CATL independently developed the CATL Carbon Chain Management System (CCMS) in 2022 to monitor and calculate carbon emissions at its plants and production lines. To date, CATL CCMS has covered carbon data across battery production operations and core upstream suppliers, generating more than 1000 product and raw material models.

Based on this data system, CATL embeds decarbonization efforts across process and equipment optimization, battery design, green energy consumption, raw material sourcing, and recycling.

In 2025, zero-carbon electricity accounted for 100% of electricity consumption in its core operations, with more than 18 billion kWh of zero-carbon power consumed cumulatively since 2023. Energy consumption per unit of product at its battery manufacturing bases decreased by 28% compared with 2022, below the industry average. Its carbon emission intensity decreased by approximately 77% compared with 2022. From 2023 to 2025, CATL delivered a cumulative carbon reduction of over 10 million tons (9.07 million tonnes) of carbon dioxide (CO₂) equivalent, comparable to Brunei’s total national carbon emissions in 2025.

The milestone not only marks CATL’s first fulfilled carbon neutrality commitment, but also sets a new benchmark for carbon neutrality practices in the lithium-ion battery industry.

Advancing Toward Full Value-Chain Carbon Neutrality By 2035

More than 80% of carbon emissions across CATL’s product lifecycle stem from its supply chain, with total value-chain emissions exceeding five times those generated in core operations.

“CATL will advance value-chain decarbonization across key areas including material innovation, material manufacturing, green logistics, and battery recycling,” said Bryan Huang, head of the Procurement Center at CATL. “This requires collaboration across the entire battery value chain.”

On data management, CATL has established baseline carbon data for more than 100 core Tier 1 suppliers and aims to progressively achieve 100% data coverage across key upstream links.

For emissions reductions, CATL will pursue decarbonization across four pillars: material and process innovation, manufacturing, green logistics, and battery recycling. On the materials side, the company is focusing on green material innovation and low-carbon process upgrades, including adopting lower-carbon anode materials such as raw petroleum coke with reduced moisture and volatile content. Because upstream raw material production is highly energy-intensive, CATL has also launched a green power coverage plan targeting 100% green electricity usage across the value chain by 2035. In logistics, the company is leveraging its advanced battery technology and battery-swapping network to promote zero-carbon logistics solutions across the industry chain, while on recycling, CATL will continue expanding its global battery recycling network through Brunp Recycling.

To support supplier decarbonization, CATL will issue its Green Procurement Guidelines requiring new suppliers to provide product carbon footprint data and incorporating renewable electricity usage and energy efficiency into annual supplier reviews. Under comparable conditions, suppliers with stronger low-carbon performance may be prioritized in order allocation and supported through long-term agreements.

CATL will also launch its Zero-Carbon Supply Chain Empowerment Initiative, kicking off in-depth joint decarbonization efforts with an initial cohort of 30 core suppliers.

The economics of zero-carbon opens substantial new growth opportunities. CATL is making strong efforts in zero-carbon mobility, zero-carbon power, and industrial electrification, with several application scenarios already implemented. Together with global partners, CATL aims to expand the zero-carbon economy, accelerate the global clean energy transition, and help create a more sustainable future.