The CIRCUBATT sustainable battery assessment framework represents a paradigm shift in how we evaluate battery business models across the European value chain. As the continent races toward its 2050 climate neutrality goals and seeks strategic autonomy in critical raw materials, the need for innovative sustainable battery assessment framework methodologies has never been more urgent. Today, we’re proud to share a major milestone: the development of a comprehensive sustainable battery assessment framework that promises to transform how we evaluate and optimize battery business models across the entire value chain.
Revolutionary framework for battery sustainability assessment
Our latest deliverable, D1.1 Assessment Methodology Framework Report, represents a paradigm shift in battery assessment framework evaluation. Led by the University of Greenwich in collaboration with UESSEX, ISL, and Euro-Funding, this sustainable battery assessment framework addresses a critical gap in the industry: the lack of standardized, comprehensive evaluation methods for emerging battery business models, particularly Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) approaches.
The sustainable battery assessment framework evaluates battery business models across three interconnected dimensions that form the foundation of sustainable battery ecosystems:
Economic Resilience & Adaptability – Measuring a business model’s ability to generate sustainable financial returns while remaining flexible to market dynamics, technological advancements, and external disruptions.
Environmental Circularity – Assessing regenerative approaches to resource use that prioritize waste minimization, material reuse, recycling, and sustainable production processes to maintain long-term ecological balance.
Social Sustainability – Evaluating ethical, inclusive, and community-oriented practices that enhance social well-being, including fair labor conditions, diversity and inclusion, and positive community contributions.
Industry-validated innovation: 37 KPIs backed by expert consensus
What sets this sustainable battery assessment framework apart is its rigorous validation process. We engaged 41 experts across the battery value chain, representing:
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30% Industry experts (engineers, technical specialists)
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30% Business representatives/managers
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27% Scholars/researchers
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27% Battery manufacturing & technology professionals
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24% Academic/research institutions
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16% Electric vehicle specialists
This diverse expertise base ensures our framework for battery evaluation reflects real-world priorities and challenges. Through comprehensive surveys and in-depth interviews, we developed and validated 37 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that cover every aspect of battery sustainability assessment.
The validation results are compelling: 97% of stakeholders rated our sustainable battery assessment framework as applicable to assess new business models (46% highly applicable, 51% somewhat applicable), with all KPIs scoring above 3.0 on importance ratings.
Revolutionary dual-scoring methodology for battery assessment
Perhaps the most innovative aspect of our sustainable battery assessment framework is the introduction of dual scoring methodologies:
Full Framework Score provides comprehensive industry benchmarking across all 37 KPIs, establishing a complete sustainability standard that reflects stakeholder priorities across the entire battery value chain. This score identifies gaps and opportunities for business model evolution.
Model-Specific Score offers tailored assessment focusing only on KPIs directly applicable to a business’s current operations, enabling fair comparison between different types of business models (e.g., digital services vs. physical manufacturing).
This dual approach ensures both comprehensive sustainability coverage assessment and operational effectiveness evaluation, answering two critical questions: “How comprehensively does this business address all aspects of battery sustainability?” and “How well is this business doing what it currently does?”
Real-world applications of our battery assessment framework
To demonstrate practical applicability, we tested our sustainable battery assessment framework with three distinct SMEs across different battery value chain segments:
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Digital battery aging databases
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EV charging solutions
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Sustainable materials
The results revealed fascinating insights about emerging business models. While these early-stage companies showed strong social sustainability (inheriting established practices from parent organizations), they exhibited opportunities for improvement in economic and environmental dimensions – providing clear roadmaps for strategic development.
Advanced methodology meets practical implementation
Our sustainable battery assessment framework employs Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) to integrate diverse stakeholder perspectives and create weighted performance scores. The methodology includes:
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Rigorous content analysis of academic literature and industry documents
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Stakeholder validation through surveys and semi-structured interviews
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Quantitative synthesis using MCDA techniques
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Sensitivity analysis confirming stakeholder consensus across professional groups
The implementation follows a six-step cyclical process: Define Scope & Objectives → Gather Data & Prepare KPIs → Apply Framework & Measure Performance → Evaluate & Identify Improvement Areas → Implement Changes & Track Progress → Re-Assess & Refine.
Visualizing success: RADAR charts and AI-Powered Insights
Performance results are visualized through intuitive RADAR charts that provide at-a-glance comparisons across the three main dimensions. Additionally, the sustainable battery assessment framework will be available as a self-assessment tool on the CIRCUBATT project platform, featuring:
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Result visualization (RADAR charts)
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AI-generated diagnostic reports
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Instant performance analysis with strength and improvement area identification
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Simplified input processes requiring minimal calculation effort
Key performance indicators that drive battery sustainability
Our stakeholder research revealed the KPIs that industry experts prioritize most highly in our sustainable battery assessment framework:
Economic Dimension:
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Profitability (highest weight: 0.095)
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Awareness of new technologies/innovations (0.094)
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Procurement resilience to supply chain disruptions (0.091)
Environmental Dimension:
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Battery longevity (0.095)
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Battery degradation rate (0.089)
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Recycling rate of key battery materials (0.085)
Social Dimension:
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Consumer health and safety (highest weight: 0.099)
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Health and safety of workers (0.094)
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Child labor prevention (0.091)
These weights reflect industry priorities where safety, profitability, and technology awareness emerge as non-negotiable foundations for sustainable battery business models.
Impact beyond assessment: driving industry transformation
This sustainable battery assessment framework serves multiple stakeholder groups:
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Battery manufacturers can assess sustainability performance and identify improvement areas
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Service providers can evaluate business model effectiveness and market positioning
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Policymakers gain evidence-based tools for supporting battery sector development
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Investors can make informed decisions based on comprehensive sustainability metrics
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Researchers access standardized methodology for battery assessment framework evaluation
Looking forward: building Europe’s sustainable battery future
The CIRCUBATT sustainable battery assessment framework represents more than just an evaluation tool – it’s a roadmap for transforming Europe’s battery industry toward greater sustainability, circularity, and competitiveness. By providing standardized evaluation methods for sustainable battery business models, we’re enabling stakeholders to:
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Identify strategic opportunities for business model evolution
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Benchmark performance against industry best practices
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Drive innovation in circular economy approaches
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Ensure alignment with European sustainability objectives
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Support decision-making with robust, evidence-based insights
As Europe works to build strategic autonomy in critical raw materials and achieve climate neutrality by 2050, frameworks for battery evaluation like this will be essential for guiding the battery sector’s transformation. Our comprehensive approach ensures that economic viability, environmental responsibility, and social sustainability advance together, creating resilient sustainable battery business models for Europe’s energy future.
The sustainable battery assessment framework detailed in our D1.1 report is now available for industry implementation, marking a significant step forward in CIRCUBATT’s mission to integrate AI, data analytics, and sustainable practices across the entire battery lifecycle.
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