Hidden Footprints: The Global Cost of Battery Technologies
This white paper by Airbus Protect provides a detailed analysis of battery technologies, emphasising their crucial role in modern life, from portable electronics and electric vehicles (EVs) to specialised aviation and space applications.
As global decarbonisation accelerates, battery technologies have become pivotal to the transition towards electric vehicles (EVs), renewable energy storage, portable electronics, and advanced aerospace applications. However, their environmental footprint extends far beyond zero-emission operational claims. This sustainability white paper by Airbus Protect delivers a thorough Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of modern battery technologies, uncovering the hidden ecological, social, and supply chain costs embedded within upstream raw material extraction, resource-intensive manufacturing, and complex end-of-life recycling. By examining critical raw material dependencies and circular eco-design principles, the paper offers actionable guidance for industrial stakeholders seeking to mitigate supply chain risks and achieve true environmental resilience.
What you will find
- Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Breakdown: A comprehensive analysis of carbon emissions and resource depletion throughout the full “cradle-to-grave” lifecycle of modern batteries.
- Critical Raw Material Vulnerabilities: Insights into supply chain risks, environmental degradation, and geopolitical factors surrounding the extraction of lithium, cobalt, nickel, and rare earth elements.
- Circular Economy & Eco-Design: Practical strategies for implementing second-life applications, design-for-recycling principles, and material recovery frameworks.
- Regulatory Compliance & Standards: Guidance on aligning battery supply chains with evolving global sustainability frameworks, ESG standards, and corporate accountability directives.
Authors
Salma Ben Zineb
Sustainability Consultant