Clarios has agreed a major deal to source low-carbon lead for its battery manufacturing plants in Europe, the Middle East and Africa from Swedish mining and metals company Boliden.

Clarios confirmed the agreement on August 24, saying that Boliden’s low-carbon lead, processed from mined ore, is smelted in “highly energy efficient Nordic facilities mainly powered by fossil-free energy”.

This results in a cradle-to-gate footprint below 1kg CO₂ per kg of lead, which corresponds to nearly half the emissions of other primary lead smelters in Europe, which Clarios said average 1,82kg CO₂/kg Pb.

Using low-carbon lead also lowers Clarios’ carbon footprint and enables its customers to reduce their Scope 3 emissions.

The low-voltage battery solutions major and owner of the VARTA Automotive brand said the Boliden supply partnership — financial details of which were not disclosed — fills an important gap.

More than 75% of the lead used for production in the EMEA comes from recycled end-of-life batteries. Clarios operates the industry’s largest closed-loop battery recycling network globally with more than 8,000 recycled batteries per hour, returning valuable materials to the production cycle.

Emissions reduction

To meet the remaining lead demand, Clarios EMEA sources low-carbon primary lead from selected partners like Boliden.

The carbon footprint of modern vehicles, regardless of the powertrain, is largely determined by the components used, Clarios said.

Boliden’s low-carbon lead represents an important contribution to Clarios EMEA’s efforts to reduce emissions along the value chain, including both recycled and primary raw materials.

According to Clarios, its low-voltage batteries are installed in one of three vehicles on the road globally — powering conventional, hybrid and electric vehicles.

Christian Rosenkranz, VP for EMEA industry and government relations at Clarios, said strategic partnerships with trusted suppliers like Boliden were crucial for the battery giant’s path to greater sustainability.

“Our mission is clear: To power the future of transportation with the world’s best batteries, produced as sustainably as possible. Our low-voltage batteries are essential for powering advanced technologies in today’s vehicles and supporting the mobility solutions of the future.”

‘Responsible choices’

Sales manager for lead at Boliden, Saga Mills, said: “We strive to lead the way in sustainable metal production, and we actively encourage our partners to be part of that journey toward a more responsible future.

“Clarios’ commitment to using low-carbon lead demonstrates how responsible choices throughout the value chain lead to immediate footprint reductions.”

The deal with Boliden comes three months after Clarios formally completed its acquisition of three lead battery recycling plants in Europe from Ecobat.

That was followed in June with the announcement that the company had produced its 100-millionth AGM battery, which rolled off the production line in Zwickau, Germany.