The world’s biggest EV battery maker says all 20 plants are carbon neutral

CATL, the Chinese company that makes nearly 4 in every 10 EV batteries sold worldwide, says all 20 of its battery plants are now certified carbon neutral under an international standard called ISO 14068-1. The company hit this goal a year ahead of schedule by running its plants entirely on zero-carbon electricity in 2025 and cutting energy use per unit of production by 28% compared with 2022. This isn't directly a homeowner story, but it matters if you're weighing an EV purchase: batteries from the world's biggest maker are getting cleaner to produce, which affects the overall carbon footprint of any EV built with CATL cells.

That said, the certification only covers CATL's own factories. More than 80% of a battery's lifecycle emissions actually come from its supply chain — mining, refining, chemical processing, and transportation — which CATL doesn't fully control. The company hasn't disclosed how much of its "zero-carbon" claim relies on actual renewable power versus purchased carbon credits or certificates, so the full picture is incomplete.

CATL's next target is decarbonizing its entire value chain by 2035. Starting in 2027, new suppliers will have to report their own carbon footprints, and suppliers with better emissions performance may get priority orders. The company is also helping suppliers install solar power and plans to expand battery recycling through its Brunp Recycling subsidiary. None of this requires any action from homeowners now, but it's a sign that the batteries going into future EVs — and eventually into home backup systems — may carry a smaller carbon footprint over time.