Building a more responsible European electric vehicle battery
At ACC, we firmly believe that the transition to sustainable mobility relies on a combination of industrial excellence, innovation and social and environmental responsibility. To support the emergence of a European battery sector that sets an example in environmental, social and ethical terms, we structured our CSR approach, ‘Sustainability in Motion’, in 2021. This is being rolled out on the ground with our ‘CSR Champions’ to embed CSR at the heart of all our business activities.
We have identified the issues with the most significant impacts across our entire value chain through a double materiality analysis, which combines the expectations of our stakeholders with our corporate ambition. In practical terms, we have assessed both our positive and negative impacts on the planet and people (impact materiality) and the influence of environmental, social and governance issues on our economic performance (financial materiality). This approach has enabled us to identify our impacts, risks and opportunities (IROs), which are presented in our annual CSR report.
A holistic approach to battery production
Our approach to corporate social responsibility (“CSR”) is rooted in the life-cycle analysis of batteries, which identifies the key environmental and social impacts. We take a comprehensive view of the expectations of our stakeholders – the authorities, our customers, our employees, elected representatives, local communities and non-governmental organisations (“NGOs”). Here are the main challenges we have identified..
Our value chain
The Challenges we face
More and more batteries are needed to fuel the energy transition. This puts pressure on mineral resources.
Social and environmental impact of mineral resource extraction and refining.
Countries are banning fuel vehicles, but currently EVs offer limited autonomy and the charging network isn’t widespread.
Across the whole chain, manufacturing batteries is both water and energy intensive.
Batteries end-of-life and recycling is still a matter of concern.
EVs are still the privilege of the few. They are expensive to buy and the battery represents more than 40% of its cost.
On the road to a cleaner mobility
Based on our material issues, our ambition and our mission, we have set out four objectives for our CSR approach.
We have organised these into three complementary and interdependent pillars (our CSR approach will be updated in autumn 2025 through interviews with staff and a collective intelligence workshop).
ACC’S CSR ROADMAP
Our vision: The 4 pillars of our CSR approach
Providing a safe, respectful and fulfilling working environment.
Ensuring our customers’ satisfaction through competitive and sustainable solutions.
Reducing our environmental footprint, particularly in terms of our carbon footprint and the responsible management of resources and waste.
Maintaining a transparent and responsible supply chain based on strong partnerships.
The three pillars of our CSR approach:
Find out more about our CSR roadmap.
We have drawn up a roadmap for the period 2026–2028, set out in the CSR report, with three to five priority areas of action for each pillar of our approach.
Putting the wheels into motion
Our two priority areas of action
CLIMATE
Continuously optimise our carbon footprint and GHG emissions.
Focus on the key areas for action when designing our products and processes (design, product weight and volume, battery performance, recyclability, energy consumption, etc.)
Select suppliers and work with them to reduce their carbon footprint, in particular through the electrification of their production processes
Limit energy consumption to the absolute minimum necessary and source low-carbon energy.
Optimise transport and logistics.
Reduce the production scrap rate
SUSTAINABLE SUPPLY CHAIN
Set high environmental, social and ethical standards for our suppliers.
Treat our suppliers fairly and with respect.
Build a transparent and traceable supply chain.
Ensure that our suppliers comply with our standards.
SUPPORTING STRATEGIES
BUSINESS ETHICS & GOVERNANCE
Act with honesty, integrity, and professionalism.
Promote fair operating practices in all countries and regions where we have a presence.
Conduct our activities in accordance with the highest ethical and professional standards, as stated in our Codes of Conduct.
ENVIRONMENT
Minimising environmental impact at source.
Using the EU’s Best Available Techniques Reference Documents (BREFs) to maximise environmental protection.
Environmental management system.
Regulatory compliance.
Prevention of incidents and major accidents; industrial safety management system
Conserving water resources.
Reducing, recovering and recycling our waste, with a view to conserving resources.
Preserving biodiversity, with long-term monitoring by ecologists.
Continuous improvement approach.
Let's move
the way
we move
As a company whose entire purpose is to have a positive impact on the environment, CSR is a big priority for ACC and goes right to the core of our mission. That’s why our CSR strategy is embedded at each and every stage of our production.
Yann Vincent
— Fomer CEO of ACC
