Development of the Battery Labeling Guidelines
On this page:
- Changes in the Global Battery Landscape
- Labeling Guidelines Can Help Improve Battery Collection, Recycling, and Safety
- EPA’s Ongoing Engagement to Develop the Labeling Guidelines
- Learn More
Changes in the Global Battery Landscape
Batteries play a central role in our everyday lives. They power everything from cars and trucks to electric bikes (e-bikes) and consumer electronics. They are also used in many industrial applications, from powering construction and agricultural equipment to providing backup power for critical infrastructure to storing energy for renewable power generation. As the demand for rechargeable batteries increases, so does the demand for the critical materials needed to manufacture these batteries. In place of mining for virgin raw materials, recovering these materials from end-of-life (EOL) batteries can reduce the global reliance on mining while advancing a circular economy. However, to recover the critical materials in batteries, we must consider the entire battery life cycle.
Batteries and battery containing products bear a variety of labels, symbols, and markings to comply with existing U.S. and international requirements. In the United States, battery labeling involves both mandatory and voluntary standards, certifications, and regulations that are not always consistent, but continue to grow in number.
Inconsistencies in product labeling can cause confusion for the people involved in the battery life cycle, including manufacturers, consumers, users, and recyclers. Standardizing information on battery labels can help provide these audiences with the specific information needed to improve the collection and recycling of batteries.
Labeling Guidelines Can Help Improve Battery Collection, Recycling, and Safety
As directed by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Section 70401, EPA will address communication challenges along the battery lifecycle by developing voluntary battery labeling guidelines. The guidelines, which EPA will finalize in 2026, will address a wide array of battery types and uses for all battery formats.
Ultimately, the guidelines will help achieve EPA’s goals of improving battery recycling and collection, promoting consumer education, and reducing safety concerns. The guidelines will do this by:
- Helping consumers identify the presence of batteries and battery-containing products.
- Helping consumers identify EOL battery management practices and inform them on how to properly dispose of batteries and battery-containing products.
- Providing necessary information for battery collectors, sorters, and recyclers to safely handle batteries and reduce safety concerns related to improper disposal.
The guidelines will identify the key information needed on a battery label. This information will help consumers more easily understand the presence of batteries in products and direct consumers to information on where to properly recycle battery and battery-containing products. The guidelines will be reinforced by consumer education materials to improve consistency in messaging and access to accurate, timely information on proper EOL battery management.
EPA’s Ongoing Engagement to Develop the Labeling Guidelines
EPA’s ongoing engagement on battery labeling is a result of collaboration with the Department of Energy, other federal agencies, battery producers and manufacturers, retailers, waste management companies, battery recyclers, non-governmental organizations, the public, and state, local, and Tribal governments.
To help aid the development of the labeling guidelines, EPA is hosting a series of working sessions to engage with interested parties across the battery life cycle. Through this effort, EPA is maintaining close collaboration with these partners throughout the battery supply chain to better understand specific challenges and information needs related to battery labeling, collection, and recycling. Feedback from the working sessions will help EPA identify opportunities for improvement across the battery recycling value chain.
The information in the guidelines will provide different audiences with the necessary information to improve EOL battery management. The guidelines will be accompanied by the collection best practices toolkit, which will help to improve EOL battery management by increasing access to collection sites. In developing the guidelines and other forms of communication materials under these initiatives, EPA will ensure alignment with existing U.S. battery labeling requirements and international standards.
Learn More
- White Paper Summarizing the Findings from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Battery Labeling Outreach and Research (2021 to 2024) (pdf) .
- White Paper Summarizing Existing Battery Labeling Requirements and Standards (pdf) .
- White Paper Summarizing Existing Labeling and Voluntary Programs (pdf) .
EPA will continue gathering input on batteries labeling and collection best practices to inform the voluntary guidelines. If you are interested in participating EPA’s ongoing foundational research efforts, please provide your information on this web form.