During the 2026 World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting, the white paper "Circularity Leads the Future: Unlocking the Circular Economy Value of Power Batteries and Critical Minerals," researched and written under the leadership of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, was officially released. As one of the important practical participants in the power battery recycling sector, Huayou Recycling participated in the relevant research work of the white paper, providing practical perspectives and industry insights for building a circular economy value chain for power batteries.

Currently, the rapid development of the global electric vehicle industry faces multiple systemic challenges. How to extend the full lifecycle value of batteries through circular economy models, improve resource utilization efficiency, enhance supply chain resilience, and reduce impacts on society and the environment has become a core issue of common concern for the global industry and policymakers. In this context, the Foundation organized this research and believes that the solution lies in the systematic reshaping of the power battery and critical minerals value chain. The report elaborates on reshaping the power battery economy through circular economy strategies with practical, structural, and systematic perspectives, while unlocking economic value and enhancing system resilience; it also proposes five of the most promising and opportunity-rich leadership actions, calling for strengthened collaboration across the entire value chain to promote the scaled development of the power battery circular economy value chain.

As an internationally influential organization in the global circular economy field, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation has long been committed to promoting the practical implementation of circular economy concepts in key areas. The choice to release this white paper during the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting reflects the importance of the power battery circular economy issue in global economic governance and the sustainability agenda, and also provides an important platform for industry players to engage in dialogue and collaboration on the international stage.