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The EU Battery Regulation (EU 2023/1542) provides a binding legal framework for batteries placed on the European market. Its main goal is to ensure batteries are safe, sustainable, and circular across their entire life cycle, from raw material sourcing to end-of-life management.

This regulation applies across all EU Member States and affects both European and non-European battery manufacturers. It addresses the rapid growth of batteries for electric vehicles, energy storage systems, and consumer electronics, supporting the EU’s objectives for climate neutrality, clean energy transition, and resource security.

Key focus areas of the EU Battery Regulation

• Sustainability and carbon footprint: Mandatory Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) reporting, minimum recycled content, and restrictions on hazardous substances.
• Safety and performance: New technical criteria for battery durability, thermal stability, and fire risk prevention. Design rules encourage reuse, repairability, and recyclability.
• Transparency and traceability: Digital battery passport providing structured information on composition, origin, performance, and sustainability, supported by labeling and QR code traceability.
• Responsible supply chains: Companies must assess and mitigate environmental and social risks in sourcing critical raw materials.

Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) requirements for batteries

A key element of the regulation is the mandatory calculation and declaration of a battery’s life cycle carbon footprint. Important principles include:

• Calculations must be specific to the battery model and production site
• Use of high-quality company-specific data for components such as cathodes, anodes, electrolytes, separators, and casings
• Full life cycle coverage: raw material sourcing, manufacturing, distribution, and end-of-life recycling
• Results expressed per unit of energy delivered over the battery’s lifetime
• Carbon offsets are not included in the official footprint
• Batteries are categorized into performance classes, with maximum allowable carbon thresholds introduced over time

Delegated Act status for PCF methodology

As of early January 2026, the Delegated Act defining the mandatory PCF methodology has not yet been adopted. Its publication was initially expected in 2025 but has been delayed. Companies can proactively prepare by following draft guidance from the Joint Research Centre (JRC) and applying best-practice life cycle assessment (LCA) and carbon footprint modeling. This ensures readiness for compliance once the final methodology becomes legally binding.

Why accurate PCF reporting matters

Mandatory PCF reporting transforms carbon footprinting into a market access requirement. Accurate reporting enables companies to:

• Meet EU regulatory compliance requirements
• Build trust with customers and investors
• Reduce greenwashing risks
• Optimize battery design for sustainability and low carbon impact

How Prelude Analytics can support your compliance

At Prelude Analytics, we help battery and materials companies produce transparent, science-based, and regulation-ready PCF and LCA models. This enables informed decision-making and ensures readiness for compliance in a rapidly evolving regulatory landscape. Start preparing today to stay ahead of EU Battery Regulation requirements. Our team will make sure your battery PCF and life cycle data are accurate, compliant, and future-proof.

Contact Prelude Analytics

• Discuss your battery PCF and life cycle reporting needs
• Plan proactive strategies for regulatory compliance
• Ensure your data and models are ready for future Delegated Acts

We provide practical guidance and actionable strategies to integrate PCF and LCA into your battery development, helping companies deliver compliant, sustainable, and low-carbon products for the EU market.

The Horizon Europe Work Programme 2026-2027 includes multiple calls where the Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) framework is expected to guide innovation in chemicals, advanced materials, and production processes. These calls target safer, more sustainable solutions while maintaining technical performance in industrial applications.

Key calls referencing SSbD:

• HORIZON-CL4-2026-02-MATERIALS-PRODUCTION-21: Development of safe and sustainable alternatives to substances of concern. The SSbD framework should guide innovation towards safer chemicals and advanced materials.
• HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MATERIALS-PRODUCTION-22: Innovative advanced materials and new production processes – reducing dependencies on critical raw materials. SSbD should guide the innovation process for sustainable materials and processes.
• HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MATERIALS-PRODUCTION-23: Accelerating the discovery and development of chemicals and innovative materials through digitalisation and AI. Expected outcomes include supporting the operationalisation of SSbD, developing new risk assessment methods, and leveraging SSbD toolboxes.
• HORIZON-CL4-2026-01 & 2027-01-MATERIALS-PRODUCTION-01/02: Advanced manufacturing for key products. While advanced materials are not the main focus, proposals should include steps to adapt materials to manufacturing applications, including SSbD-design steps and digital twin integration.
• HORIZON-CL4-2026-01 & 2027-01-MATERIALS-PRODUCTION-05/06: Circular innovative advanced materials. SSbD should guide the innovation process, ensuring alternatives are both technically functional and sustainably designed.

What this means for consortium partners:

Proposals for these calls must demonstrate how SSbD principles are integrated into project planning and execution. This requires a clear strategy for sustainable innovation, proper selection of materials, and alignment with technical and environmental objectives. In many cases, collaboration with entities can enhance credibility and operationalisation.

How Prelude Analytics can support your proposal

At Prelude Analytics, we assist Horizon Europe consortia in effectively integrating SSbD into their proposals. Our services include:

• Guidance on applying SSbD principles to chemicals, materials, and production processes
• Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) analyses to support sustainability claims
• Practical recommendations for operationalising SSbD across project stages

Interested in collaborating?
If you are forming a consortium for Horizon Europe 2026-2027 calls where SSbD alignment is expected, Prelude Analytics can be a valuable technical partner. We help demonstrate compliance, strengthen proposal credibility, and ensure SSbD is embedded throughout the innovation process.

📩 Contact Prelude Analytics to:

• Discuss potential collaboration on Horizon Europe proposals
• Plan how SSbD can be operationalised in your project

We provide practical guidance and actionable strategies to integrate SSbD into Horizon Europe proposals, helping consortia deliver safer, sustainable, and high-impact innovation.

What is Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD)?

Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) is a voluntary framework introduced by the EU to guide the development of chemicals, materials, and products that are safe for humans and the environment. It encourages integrating safety and sustainability from the earliest design stages.

• Reduce the use of hazardous substances
• Minimize human health and environmental impacts
• Support regulatory compliance

How does SSbD work?

SSbD follows a two-phase, iterative approach to ensure products meet safety and sustainability goals:

• Redesign Phase: Rethink products, chemicals, and materials with safety and sustainability in mind, exploring alternative substances, materials, or processes.
• Safety and Sustainability Assessment Phase: Evaluate redesigned products using available data and refine assessments iteratively, incorporating methodologies such as LCA and Product Carbon Footprint (PCF).

Why is life cycle thinking important?

Life cycle thinking is central to SSbD. It considers impacts from raw material sourcing, production, use, and end-of-life management. Tools like LCA and PCF provide quantitative insights into environmental and climate impacts.

How Prelude Analytics supports SSbD

At Prelude Analytics, we help companies implement SSbD by offering tailored services to integrate safety and sustainability into product design. Our services include:

• Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to evaluate environmental impacts
• Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) analysis for climate-conscious design
• Guidance on safe and sustainable material selection

Benefits of SSbD

• Minimize hazardous substance use
• Reduce environmental footprints
• Support regulatory and market compliance
• Enable sustainable innovation from the design stage

By embedding sustainability early, SSbD ensures that the products and materials of today and tomorrow are safer, cleaner, and more sustainable.

Interested?
If you want to integrate SSbD into your product development, Prelude Analytics can guide you every step of the way.

📩 Contact Prelude Analytics to:

• Request a quotation
• Schedule a free introductory meeting to discuss your case and needs

We’re happy to explore how SSbD can support your sustainability strategy by providing practical guidance, actionable insights, and early clarity for your product design process.

What is the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD)?

The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), adopted in 2022, sets mandatory EU-wide rules for sustainability reporting. It is being phased in from 2024 to 2028, depending on company size, listing status, and EU presence.

Scope & Timing

• Large companies meeting thresholds for employees, turnover, and assets
• Listed SMEs, with phased deadlines and opt-outs
• Non-EU companies with significant EU activity

Recent EU measures, including the “Stop-the-Clock” mechanism and the 2025 Omnibus package, adjust deadlines and aim to simplify requirements.

Core Principles

• Double materiality: companies must assess both how sustainability issues affect them (financial) and how they impact society and the environment
• Assurance: sustainability information must be audited

Reporting Standards

Disclosures must align with the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), developed by EFRAG and adopted by the European Commission. Topical standards cover:

• Environmental: climate change, pollution, water, biodiversity, circular economy
• Social: workforce, value chain workers, communities, consumers
• Governance: business conduct

Methodologies such as the GHG Protocol or ISO 14064-1 may be used for emissions accounting, but must be mapped to ESRS requirements.

Key Takeaways

The CSRD is reshaping corporate transparency in Europe. Companies should prepare by:

1. Identifying their reporting wave
2. Running a robust double materiality assessment
3. Aligning disclosures with ESRS
4. Setting up data systems ready for assurance
5. Monitoring ongoing EU adjustments to timelines and scope

Sources & Further Reading

• Directive (EU) 2022/2464 (CSRD) – EUR-Lex
• European Commission: Corporate sustainability reporting (CSRD & ESRS adoption)
• EFRAG / ESRS delegated act adoption (31 July 2023)
• European Commission: Omnibus simplification package (Feb 2025)

At Prelude Analytics, we support companies in addressing climate change within CSRD reporting, ensuring that disclosures are relevant, compliant, and aligned with business impact.

Construction Products Regulation (CPR): What You Need to Know

The revised EU Construction Products Regulation (CPR) is set to reshape how environmental data is reported across the construction sector. With mandatory carbon reporting on the horizon and full LCA transparency required by 2032, now is the time for manufacturers and suppliers to prepare.

Scope and Legal Application

• Scope: The CPR applies to all construction products made available in the European Union.
• Legal Status: Its application is mandatory for manufacturers, importers, and distributors.
• Implementation: The CPR outlines what must be reported and complied with. The detailed how will be defined through future Implementing Acts, largely relying on harmonized European standards (ENs) developed by CEN/CENELEC.

Environmental Focus and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)

From a sustainability perspective, the CPR provides harmonized rules for assessing and reporting the environmental performance of construction products across the EU.

Key goals include:

• Introducing a common technical language for assessing environmental performance
• Ensuring reliable and transparent data is available to manufacturers, public authorities, and consumers
• Allowing comparison of construction products across manufacturers and Member States based on verified environmental data

Manufacturers must disclose environmental performance in the Declaration of Performance and Conformity (DoPC), using EN 15804 as the methodology. This standard defines how to perform Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and report environmental indicators via Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs).

Timeline of Implementation

Date	Key Milestone
7th January 2025	CPR enters into force
8th January 2026	Mandatory reporting of Global Warming Potential (GWP) in the DoPC (dependent on Implementing Acts)
31st December 2026	European Commission to conduct an impact assessment for Green Public Procurement (GPP)
9th January 2030	Mandatory declaration of core environmental indicators: ozone depletion, acidification, eutrophication, photochemical ozone formation, abiotic resource depletion, water use
9th January 2032	Mandatory declaration of all LCA indicators: particulate matter, ionizing radiation, ecotoxicity, human toxicity, land use

Member States may require additional indicators beyond those defined in the CPR, but they may not require fewer.

Priority Product Families and Harmonized Standards

The European Commission has identified priority product families that will be the first to fall under harmonized environmental performance standards. Standardization efforts vary by product group.

Top-Ranked Product Families

Rank	Product Family	Weighted Priority Share
1	M100 – Precast concrete products	6.85%
2	M120 – Structural metallic products	6.43%
3	M115 – Reinforcing steel	5.89%
4	M101 – Doors and windows	5.86%
5	M114 – Cement	5.33%
6	M103 – Thermal insulating products	4.63%
7	M112 – Structural timber products and ancillaries	4.60%
8	M128 – Concrete, mortar, and grout	4.49%
9	M116 – Masonry	4.19%
10	M125 – Aggregates	3.75%

The full list includes 34 product families, guiding the development of harmonized rules for calculating environmental indicators like carbon footprint and other LCA metrics.

Summary

The revised CPR represents a major shift toward embedding sustainability in the construction product market. By introducing mandatory environmental reporting based on EN 15804, the regulation enables transparent, comparable, and verifiable sustainability performance.

To comply, manufacturers must adapt internal systems to align with upcoming Implementing Acts and integrate environmental data into DoPCs.

Staying ahead of these regulatory shifts is essential for compliance, market access, and competitive advantage. Contact Prelude Analytics for support preparing product declarations, aligning with EN 15804, or integrating LCA into your CE-marking process.

Eco-design for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR): What You Need to Know

The ESPR, adopted in July 2024, extends ecodesign requirements to nearly all physical products placed on the EU market (excluding food). It is part of the EU Green Deal and Circular Economy Action Plan, aiming to reduce life cycle environmental impacts, improve circularity, and make sustainable products standard.

What is ESPR?

ESPR is a framework regulation: it defines what must be done, but not how. Detailed implementation will be handled via Delegated Acts, which set product-specific requirements and methodologies.

Key points:

• Legally binding: mandatory once provisions apply.
• Broad scope: nearly all physical products except food.
• Overlap possible: some products (e.g., steel) may also fall under CPR or other regulations.

LCA and ESPR

ESPR is closely linked to Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) indicators. While exact methodologies are under development, they are expected to align with the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF). Key requirements may include:

• Information requirements: disclosure of carbon footprint, life cycle emissions, energy consumption.
• Performance requirements: maximum thresholds for carbon footprint or emissions (to be defined in Delegated Acts).

Product Groups Covered

Initial product categories prioritized for ESPR include:

• Final Products: Textiles & Apparel, Furniture, Tyres, Mattresses, Detergents, Paints & Varnishes, Lubricants, Cosmetics, Toys, Fishing Gear, Absorbent Hygiene Products
• Intermediate Products: Iron & Steel, Aluminium, Commodity Chemicals, Non-ferrous metals, Plastics & Polymers, Pulp & Paper, Glass
• Horizontal requirements: Durability, Recyclability, Recycled Content

ESPR Working Plan 2025–2030

The first Working Plan, adopted in April 2025, defines initial product groups for which Delegated Acts will be developed. Example timelines:

Product	Priority	Delegated Act Expected
Iron & Steel	High	2026
Aluminium	Medium	2027
Textiles & Apparel	High	2027
Tyres	Medium	2027
Furniture	High	2028
Mattresses	High	2029

Environmental Impacts by Product

Product	Key Environmental Impacts Addressed
Textiles & Apparel	Water use, waste generation, climate change, energy consumption
Furniture	Resource use, climate change, acidification, eutrophication, biodiversity
Tyres	Recyclability and recycled content (no LCA metric specified)
Iron & Steel	Climate change, water, air (aligns with green steel label, ETS, CBAM)
Aluminium	Climate change, air, water, biodiversity, soil pollution, raw materials

Next Steps

The European Commission will develop Delegated Acts for each product group, defining:

• Product-specific performance and information requirements
• Compliance deadlines and transitional measures
• Methodologies

Summary

• ESPR is in force as of July 2024, setting the legal basis for sustainable product rules.
• Delegated Acts will define specific obligations starting from 2026 onward.
• LCA-based metrics, especially carbon footprint, will play a major role.
• The first Working Plan (2025–2030) includes 6 product groups with expected adoption between 2026 and 2029.

Need Help Preparing for ESPR?

If your company works with materials like steel, aluminium, textiles, or furniture, now is the time to act. Understanding upcoming requirements and preparing robust sustainability data will be essential for compliance and competitive advantage.

Want support with LCA, carbon footprinting, or ESPR readiness?
👉 Contact us to see how we can help you stay ahead of regulatory change.

References: JRC Study, 2024

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): A Key Tool for EU Sustainability Compliance

As sustainability becomes a cornerstone of European Union (EU) policy, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) has emerged as a foundational tool for compliance and innovation. From eco-design to green claims, the EU is integrating LCA into regulations, directives, and frameworks to ensure products and buildings are genuinely sustainable across their entire life cycle.

What Is Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)?

LCA is a scientific, standardized method for evaluating the environmental impacts of a product, process, or service—from raw material extraction to end-of-life. It quantifies factors such as greenhouse gas emissions, resource depletion, and pollution across all life cycle stages, providing a holistic view of environmental performance.

Why Is LCA Central to EU Regulations?

1. Comprehensive Environmental Insight: LCA identifies environmental “hotspots” and improvement opportunities, enabling manufacturers and designers to reduce impacts across the full life cycle.
2. Transparency and Accountability: EU regulations increasingly require environmental claims and performance indicators to be based on LCA data, improving clarity for consumers and minimizing greenwashing.
3. Level Playing Field: Standardizing environmental reporting through LCA ensures consistency among market participants, supporting the EU’s goal of a single market for sustainable products.

Where Is LCA Required or Encouraged?

• Eco-design for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR): LCA is a key tool to define product-specific performance requirements, supporting durability, reparability, and environmental performance.
• Sustainable Batteries Regulation: LCA-based carbon footprint disclosure is mandatory for EV and industrial batteries sold in the EU. Calculations must follow defined methodologies and be independently verified.
• Construction Products Regulation (CPR): LCA-based indicators, such as climate change potential, are being phased into CPR requirements. Verified EPDs will be required for construction products.
• Green Claims Directive: Environmental claims must be substantiated by reliable evidence, typically LCA-based, and undergo mandatory third-party verification.
• Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD): Whole-life carbon assessments for new buildings will use LCA to assess life cycle GHG emissions, contributing to national carbon reduction goals.
• Sustainability Reporting (CSRD): While LCA is not mandated, it is strongly encouraged under ESRS E1 for reporting environmental impacts such as GHG emissions and resource use.

What Does This Mean for Businesses?

• Compliance is evolving: LCA is moving from a voluntary best practice to a regulatory requirement. Companies must prepare to collect, analyze, and verify life cycle data.
• Competitive advantage: Early LCA adoption boosts credibility, meets investor and customer expectations, and positions companies for sustainable procurement and green market opportunities.

LCA is no longer just a technical exercise; it is becoming a strategic imperative. As EU regulations demand transparency, Life Cycle Assessment provides the scientific foundation for credible environmental performance, legal compliance, and long-term market leadership.

📩 Contact us to discover how Prelude Analytics can help your business meet compliance requirements and unlock sustainable growth through smart, effective LCA strategies.